Montreal Canadiens acquire former 1st round pick in trade with the Chicago Blackhawks
This morning, the Montreal Canadiens announced that they have acquired defenceman Nicolas Beaudin from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Cam Hillis.
Beaudin is a former first round pick of the Blackhawks in 2018, but is now struggling to make the lineup of a desolate Blackhawks team. After bouncing between the NHL and the AHL the last few years, and struggling to put up many points, it looks like Beaudin will only amount to an option for a depth defenceman.
Hillis, from the Canadiens, is a former third round pick of the club, a center prospect who has also bounced between the Canadiens and their minor league team. Also putting up underwhelming numbers in his NHL and AHL stints, like Beaudin he appear to be an option for organizational depth.
Perhaps both clubs would prefer that organizational depth in the separate positions, and that's what motivated the trade. It could also be a trade of two failed prospects both looking for a reset with a new team. Most likely however, it's an extremely inconsequential trade to both teams.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531742.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
