At the heart of trade rumors for a long time, defender Ben Chiarot was finally traded by the Montreal Canadiens to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
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In return for the 30-year-old veteran, general manager Kent Hughes got forward Tyler Smilanic, a first-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick this year. The Habs also retain 50% of the remaining salary of the rear.
Chiarot was playing his third season in a CH uniform, having been hired as a free agent in July 2019. At the end of the 2021-2022 season, he will sign a three-year contract that will earn him 3.5 million $ annually. He will therefore become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
In this miserable season with the Habs, the Ontarian amassed seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 54 games. He also maintained a -18 differential.
Before joining the Canadiens, Chiarot was part of the Winnipeg Jets organization for eight seasons. He was a fourth-round pick (120th overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2009 draft.
Smilanic, for his part, is 20 years old and has never played in the National League. Selected in the third round by the Panthers in 2020, he currently plays for Quinnipiac University in the NCAA. The Denver native has 13 goals and 22 points in 38 games this season.
