Ben Chiarot was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday. Coming back to the Canadiens were forward Tyler Smilanic, a first-round pick in 2023, and a fourth-round pick in 2022 (via New York Rangers).
Chiarot Is a Veteran Defenseman with a High Upside
Chiarot is a veteran defenseman that many NHL teams had on their radar heading into the NHL Trade Deadline. He’s a pending UFA (unrestricted free agent) with a salary-cap hit of $3.5 million. He’s scored seven goals and added 11 assists (for 18 points) in 54 games on the season.
The 30-year-old Chiarot also added a goal and two points in 22 playoff games and brings with him the experience of helping the Canadiens get all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
Related: Panthers Trading Frank Vatrano to New York Rangers
Chiarot Brings Almost 500 NHL Games to the Panther’s Playoff Push
Chiarot was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 draft by the Atlanta Thrashers; and, during his 469-game NHL career, he’s totaled 29 goals and 110 points. To bring Chiarot to the Panthers, the team had to clear some salary-cap space, which they did by trading Frank Vatrano.
Chiarot’s Price Was Steep, But His Intangibles Are Big
The trade will be seen as a steep price to pay for a rental; however, but, Chiarot was a highly-coveted defenseman and there were plenty of interested parties. Some of them included the Calgary Flames, the St. Louis Blues, and the Boston Bruins. It shows that the Panthers are all in this season for a Stanley Cup run.
Related: Minnesota Acquires Tyson Jost From Avalanche for Nico Sturm
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