Canadiens trade Prust for Kassian, extend Pateryn on first day of free agency
Kassian delivers the size Habs seem to always be looking fo
With Jeff Petry already signed long-term, the Montreal Canadiens made a handful of minor moves on the first day of free agency.
Montreal acquired Zack Kassian and a fifth-round pick from the Vancouver Canucks for Brandon Prust and extended the contract of defenceman Greg Pateryn for two more years at a cap hit of US$800,000.
The six-foot-three, 214-pound Kassian delivers the size the Canadiens seem to always be looking for. The 26-year-old has 66 points in 198 career games.
Pateryn, 25, is now signed through the 2017-18 season.
"Greg is a young defenceman who has developed very well," general manager Marc Bergevin said in a statement. "He enjoys the physical play and brings more depth to our defensive group."
The Habs added more defensive depth by signing Joel Hanley to a one-year, two-way contract.
Hanley spent last season with the AHL's Portland Pirates.
On the eve of free agency, Montreal re-signed forward Brian Flynn to a two-year, $1.9-million contract. Bergevin called Flynn a ``fast, versatile and reliable player.''
``Brian bought into the team's philosophy from the very first day,'' Bergevin said. ``He brings the right attitude to the dressing room day in and day out, and has a professional approach to the game. We are proud to have him among our group of forwards.''
The Canadiens also signed defenceman Mark Barberio, a Montreal native, to a one-year, two-way deal.