Canadiens acquire Scrivens from Oilers for Kassian

The Montreal Canadiens officially acquired goaltender Ben Scrivens from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday in exchange for forward Zack Kassian. Seeing as $550,000 would represent 23.9 percent of Scrivens’ contract, it seems reasonable to assume that the Oilers retained that much money to make this a deal with absolutely no salary cap impact. His best season was 2013-14 when he posted a. 931 save percentage in 19 games as Jonathan Quick’s backup on the Los Angeles Kings.

The Canadiens needed goaltending depth with the absence of Carey Price, who has been out since November 25 after he sustained his second lower-body injury of the season. It’s been a problem for the team through their recent slump where they’ve gone 1-10-0 in their last 11 games. Scrivens is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

He was placed on waivers by the Canadiens but was asked not to report to the club’s American Hockey League affiliate after clearing waivers. He was just allowed back and the Canadiens waived him and were sending him to St. John’s.

Habs Play by Play announcer Dan Robertson joined The Morning Show to evaluate the Zack Kassian trade and the move to send Dustin Tokarski to the minors.