Montreal (CP) -- The Montreal Canadiens made yet another dramatic trade this season, this time acquiring offensive left-winger Ladislav Nagy from Los Angeles.
This is the second major trade completed between the two clubs. The previous deal saw Zigmund Palffy head over to La Belle Provance.
Nagy, along with defenseman Jason Holland and top defensive prospect Kyle Quincey went packing to Montreal in exchange for top-two defenseman Janne Niinimaa, second-line player Mike Ribeiro and cash considerations.
"This was a significant move for us," said Habs assistant GM Bob Gainey. "The depth of our blueline allowed this trade to actually happen. We lost a great defenseman and a great forward, but we felt acquiring someone with Nagy’s skill was just something we couldn’t pass up."
Nagy, 26, has great imagination with the puck and the hands of a pure goal-scorer. He can play anywhere up front and possesses a bit of a nasty streak as well.
He scored 13 goals and added 35 assists in 64 games with the Kings this season.
"We’re going to give him the opportunity to pot some goals in," Gainey said. "He managed to score 13 goals this year, but he’s capable of so much more."
Nagy is expected to join Palffy and Mike Modano on the team’s first line, while Richard Zednik will drop to the second line with Pavol Demitra and Marco Sturm.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are believed to be in the market for a two-way defenseman.