In a surprise move on Friday afternoon, the Montreal Canadiens announced a minor trade. Sending AHL forward Jacob Perreault to Edmonton, they acquired defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer in return. The trade was one for one.
Perreault has been held scoreless in six games with the Laval Rocket this season, while he has been a point-per game player in his stint with the Lions de Trois Rivieres of the ECHL. He hasn’t quite lived up to the AHL scoring potential he was acquired for, and was about to be re-assigned back to the ECHL. As such, a parting of ways made sense, as he likely isn’t someone with much to prove at the ECHL level, while the Rocket don’t seem to need his services up front.
Hoefenmayer has been reasonably productive for the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL this season, putting up a goal and six assists through 11 games of action. Currently in his fifth AHL season, he has spent time with the Leafs and Oilers organizations, but has yet to break through and earn his first NHL game.
He was a fourth-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes back in 2017, and despite not yet matriculating to the NHL, he has become a relatively steady presence on an AHL blue line. He should be assigned to the Laval Rocket, and this could open the door for further moves, which could include the promotion of one of their young defenders to the Canadiens.
