Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Kent Hughes made a Friday move involving Riley Kidney as Martin St. Louis and the Canadiens adjust organizational depth after a trade with the Ottawa Senators.
Montreal sent Kidney to Ottawa and received goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Jake Chiasson in return.
The move is aimed more at the Laval Rocket than the Canadiens' NHL lineup. All three players have spent most of their season in the American Hockey League.
Shepard adds experience in the crease for Laval. The 30-year-old appeared in 15 games with Belleville this season and posted a 6-7-2 record.
Depth in net matters during the grind of the AHL schedule, especially with constant call-ups and injuries affecting the organization.
Over his NHL career, Shepard has appeared in 6 games split between the Washington Capitals and the Ottawa Senators, posting a 2-3-1 record.
Chiasson represents more of a development project for the organization.
Canadiens continue shaping the goalie pipeline
The 22-year-old forward recorded 1 assist in 20 games with Belleville in the American Hockey League this season.
Chiasson also spent time in the ECHL with the Allen Americans, producing 8 points including 2 goals and 6 assists in 16 games.
At 6-foot-2, he brings size and another depth option to the Rocket forward group as the organization continues developing its next wave of players.
The trade also arrives while attention around the organization remains focused on top goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler.
Fowler finished a dominant season at Boston College, posting a 25-7-2 record while leading one of the strongest programs in NCAA hockey.
The 20-year-old goaltender also posted a 1.63 goals-against average along with a .940 save percentage.
Those numbers placed Fowler among the most effective goaltenders in college hockey this season.
Inside the Canadiens organization, Fowler is widely viewed as a potential long-term option in the crease.
With that long-term outlook in mind, the additions of Shepard and Chiasson mainly reinforce depth around the development system in Laval.
For Canadiens fans, Friday's news highlights how Kent Hughes continues adjusting pieces across the organization while the next core continues to grow.
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