Montreal, QC -- With the OTHL in full swing, the Montreal Canadiens completed their second trade in as many days.
The Habs, who acquired center Daymond Langkow from the Phoenix Coyotes, danced with the New York Rangers this time, acquiring defenseman Tom Poti.
In exchange, the Blueshirts obtained talented prospect Michael Lambert and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2004 Entry Draft.
We felt with the amount of young depth we have, we could afford to let a talent like Lambert go in order to bolster our blueline, said Habs GM Dave Pagnotta. Poti certainly upgrades our defensive core and we're quite pleased with the acquisition.
Poti, 27, currently has a five-year deal that will see him earn $2.95 million a season. The deal puts the Canadiens less than $2 million under the $50 million salary cap that must be set prior to the start of the 2004-05 season.
We're looking to make a few more deals, Pagnotta said. We're confident we'll be under the cap when the season starts.
Lambert, 20, scored 42 goals and 42 assists for 84-points in 67 games with the Prince Edward Island Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this past season. He is expected to make his way to the Rangers' affiliate, Hartford of the American Hockey League, next season.