After the deadline had passed, news came in that the Montreal Canadiens had traded a fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenceman Mike Reilly.
Les Canadiens font l’acquisition du défenseur Mike Reilly du Wild du Minnesota, en retour d’un choix de 5e tour en 2019 (acquis précédemment de Washington).#GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 26, 2018
The Canadiens and Wild had been linked for well over a year in talks, and this deal may just be a means of getting something out of those conversations. When considered in tandem with the trade of Joe Morrow minutes before the trade was announced, the two trades can be regarded as swapping two similar players for a slightly higher draft pick, giving up a fifth to gain a fourth.
Reilly had two goals and eight assists in 38 games with the Wild this season compared to five goals and six assists in 38 games for Morrow.
His father, Michael Reilly, was an eighth-round pick for the team back in 1977.
We will have more on this trade soon.
