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Greg Wyshynski, ESPNDec 18, 2024, 10:14 PM ET
- Greg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.
The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Alexandre Carrier from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Justin Barron on Wednesday ahead of the NHL holiday roster freeze.
Carrier, 28, has seven points in 28 games this season for the struggling Predators, skating to a minus-14. He was averaging 20:08 per game, up from his previous two seasons in Nashville and the third-most among all skaters this season for the Predators. That ice time includes 2:44 per game on the penalty kill, which was second-most on the Predators. Carrier primarily played on a pairing with Jeremy Lauzon this season.
While known for his defense, Carrier has shown some offensive upside in the past, including 30 points in 2021-22 as a rookie.
Carrier, a Quebec native, was the subject of trade speculation last season before re-signing with the Predators for three years and $11.25 million in July. He last played on Dec. 7 and was listed as “week to week” with an upper-body injury.
Montreal acquired a more proven player for a younger one in Barron, a 23-year-old defenseman who has played in 17 games for the Canadiens with one goal and a minus-4. He is averaging 14:43 per game, which is down from last season. Barron blocks shots and plays with physicality.
Barron, who plays the left and right side on defense, has two more years left on his deal before restricted free agency with a $1.15 million cap hit.
Before the season, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis praised Barron’s skating and physicality, but said Montreal wanted more consistency from its young defenseman.
“If JB plays 20 minutes, he might have the puck for one minute max and there’s 19 minutes he won’t have the puck. So, how engaged are you?” said St. Louis, via Sportsnet. “Are you boxing out? Are you blocking shots? I find he’s made nice improvements on this, and it’s good that he has. Now it’s about consistency in these elements. That’s what he needs to find.”
The NHL’s annual holiday roster freeze begins Friday and runs through Dec. 27.
