Canadiens trade Dustin Tokarski to Ducks for Max Friberg
The trades keep rolling in.
The Montreal Canadiens dealt goaltender Dustin Tokarski to the Anaheim Ducks for forward Max Friberg on Thursday, the clubs announced.
Tokarski, 26, became expendable after Montreal acquired Ben Scrivens in exchange for Zack Kassian. Tokarski has a 3.18 goals-against average and .878 save percentage in six games (four starts) this season. He owns a career .904 save percentage in 33 games (27 starts) across five seasons in the NHL, between Montreal and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tokarski's best work with the Habs came in 2014, when he was thrust into five playoff games after Carey Price was hurt. He won two of them, posting a .916 save percentage.
Dustin Tokarski is earning $575,000 in the final season of his contract. He has one more of RFA status.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 7, 2016
Friberg, 23, will report to the Canadiens' American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps. He's pointless through the first six games of his NHL career, but has five goals and 12 assists in 25 AHL games.
The Swede is under contract through next season, after which he's due for restricted free agency.
Ducks All-Star starting goaltender John Gibson was hurt Wednesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and although he was labeled day to day with a lower-body injury, the trade led to speculation that the injury may be worse than initially thought.
That doesn't appear to be the case:
Been told that Tokarski deal isn't response to Gibson getting hurt. Injury isn't considered to be serious. Day to day in literal sense.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) January 7, 2016
Tokarski will also report to the AHL, the Orange County Register's Eric Stephens adds.