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Canadiens trade for J. Benn, as in that other J. Benn

As is tradition, the NHL trade deadline has extended out roughly 72 hours prior to the actual deadline, and trades great and small are happening.

On the small side, but not an insignificant side, is the Montreal Canadiens’ trade for Dallas Stars defenseman Jordie Benn, the brother of Stars winger Jamie Benn, a.k.a. the player that inadvertently gave half of Montreal a simultaneous heart attack when someone texted them “we got benn.”

The Canadiens traded defenseman Greg Pateryn and a 2017 4th round pick for Benn. Please recall that Pateryn was named in a memo from GM Marc Bergevin as a player who was very much available, and now he’s with the Dallas Stars.

From the Stars:

In 82 games over parts of four seasons, all with Montreal, he has recorded 13 points (2-11=13), 194 hits and 114 blocked shots. He appeared in seven playoff contests in 2015, producing three assists. “Greg is a solid defender and possesses a physical presence on the back-end,” stated Nill. “He brings size and another right shot into the mix for us.”

The 6-foot-3, 221-pound native of Sterling Heights, Mich. was originally selected by Toronto in the fifth round (128th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.

Benn, 29, has produced 15 points (2-13=15) in 58 games played for Dallas this season. In parts of six NHL seasons, all with the Stars, he has recorded 71 points (11-60=71) in 302 regular season contests. He also recorded three assists (0-3=3) in seven playoff games. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Victoria, British Columbia was signed as a free agent by Dallas on July 1, 2011.

“We want to thank Jordie for all his contributions both on the ice, and in the community,” said Nill. “We wish him all the best in his career going forward.”

From Mike Johnson, from January, on Pateryn:

The 26-year-old has suited up for just three games since suffering a fractured ankle in early December. Prior to the injury, Pateryn had been a reliable everyday blue-liner for Montreal. He has one year remaining on his contract which comes with a manageable $800,000 cap hit.

Jordie Benn, and his fabulous beard, had 15 points in 58 games for the Stars, skating 18:37 per game. He was a slight drag on possession this season playing mostly with Dan Hamhuis, but there’s a lot to like about him.

Benn is 29 and has two more years at $1.1 million annually on his contract. If nothing else, that’s some prime expansion draft bait right there. But there’s also a very serviceable NHL defenseman that the Canadiens didn’t ante too much to snag.

So on The Milbury Scale, we’re giving this trade:

Yahoo
Yahoo

THREE MILBURYS.

Benn is an NHL defenseman that makes nothing against the cap and was acquired for a guy the Habs don’t like anymore and one of several thousand picks they’ve stockpiled. That’s a win.

Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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