MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have traded goaltender Peter Budaj to the Winnipeg Jets for forward Eric Tangradi.
By dealing Budaj, the Canadiens opted to keep Dustin Tokarski as Carey Price’s backup after the 25-year-old played well in last year’s Eastern Conference final against the New York Rangers.
Tokarski would have had to go on waivers if the Habs didn’t keep him in the NHL.
Budaj, who has one year left at $1.4 million, figures to move ahead of Michael Hutchinson as the backup to Jets starter Ondrej Pavelec.
Tangradi previously cleared waivers and didn’t appear to be in the Jets’ plans.
Forward Patrick Holland also went from the Canadiens to the Jets.
Photo via Jean-Yves Ahern/USA TODAY Sports Images
