The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Alexandre Provider from the Nashville Predators in trade for defenseman Justin Barron on Wednesday forward of the NHL vacation roster freeze.
Provider, 28, has seven factors and was a minus-14 in 28 video games this season for the struggling Predators. He was averaging 20:08 per recreation, up from his earlier two seasons in Nashville and the third most amongst all skaters this season for the Predators. That ice time contains 2:44 per recreation on the penalty kill, which was second most on the Predators. Provider primarily performed on a pairing with Jeremy Lauzon this season.
Although identified for his protection, Provider has proven some offensive upside previously, together with 30 factors in 2021-22 as a rookie.
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Provider, a Quebec native, was the topic of commerce hypothesis final season earlier than re-signing with the Predators for 3 years and $11.25 million in July. He final performed Dec. 7 and was listed as “week to week” on account of an upper-body harm.
Barron, a 23-year-old defenseman, has one aim and was a minus-4 in 17 video games for the Canadiens. He’s averaging 14:43 per recreation, which is down from final season. Barron blocks pictures and performs with physicality.
Barron, who performs the left and proper aspect on protection, has two extra years left on his cope with a $1.15 million cap hit earlier than he can turn into a restricted free agent.
Earlier than the season, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis praised Barron’s skating and bodily play, however mentioned Montreal wished extra consistency from its younger defenseman.
“If J.B. performs 20 minutes, he might need the puck for one minute max and there is 19 minutes he will not have the puck. So, how engaged are you?” St. Louis mentioned, by way of Sportsnet. “Are you boxing out? Are you blocking pictures? I discover he is made good enhancements on this, and it is good that he has. Now, it is about consistency in these components. That is what he wants to seek out.”
The NHL’s annual vacation roster freeze begins Friday and runs by way of Dec. 27.
