The Carolina Hurricanes announced Saturday afternoon that they have traded defenseman Joel Edmundson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick (#139 overall) in the 2020 NHL entry draft. Edmundson is set to become a free agent on Friday, October 9.
FROM THE HURRICANES
Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired Montreal’s fifth-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft in exchange for the rights to defenseman Joel Edmundson.
#Canes send rights to Joel Edmundson to Canadiens for fifth-round draft pick
More Info » https://t.co/UcUCRASKEH pic.twitter.com/SDbzChW0ZA
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) September 12, 2020
Edmundson, 27, recorded 20 points (7g, 13a) in 68 games with the Hurricanes this season. The 6’4″, 215-pound defenseman has earned 72 points (20g, 52a) in 337 career NHL games with St. Louis and Carolina.
The 2020 NHL Draft with be held virtually over two days. Round 1 will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 6 and Rounds 2-7 will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The trade means that the Canadiens have acquired the rights to negotiate with Edmundson prior to the first day of free agency. Edmundson could very well test the market when free agency opens on October 9, and sign with another team. However, the trade seems to indicate that the Canadiens feel fairly confident that they will be able to reach an agreement with Edmundson.
Joel Edmundson (UFA rights acquired by MTL) was one of the worst defencemen in the league this season. He would likely be the worst LD on the Canadiens by a sizeable margin. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/RWcamU3lL6
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 12, 2020
By Jon Sorensen
