Montreal Canadiens trade Lars Eller to Capitals
Habs select Russian defenceman Mikhail Sergachev, acquire Andrew Shaw in NHL draft
The Montreal Canadiens selected Russian defenceman Mikhail Sergachev with the ninth overall pick at the NHL
draft on Friday.
The 17-year-old played for the Windsor Spitfires in 2015-16, leading all Ontario Hockey League defenders with 17 goals in his rookie season.
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He also had 40 assists and 57 points, good for third at his position.
Sergachev became only the second rookie ever to win the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL's outstanding defenceman, and was also the second youngest ever to do so.
Sergachev skates well for his position and six-foot-two frame, and can be a dangerous offensive element on the back end.
He is the first defenceman to be selected in this year's draft.
It's been a noisy draft week for the Canadiens with speculation involving a trade of star defenceman P.K. Subban. General manager Marc Bergevin tried to put such talk to rest Thursday, insisting that he was not actively shopping Subban.
The Canadiens acquired forward Andrew Shaw from the Chicago Blackhawks earlier Friday for a pair of second round draft picks at the draft.
Montreal also traded forward Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals for second round draft picks in 2017 and 2018.
The two draft selections acquired from Chicago are the 39th and 45th overall picks at this year's draft.
Montreal unraveled last season after losing No. 1 goaltender Carey Price to a knee injury. The club is looking to bolster the roster this season off-season, primarily by upgrading the top of the forward group.