Montreal, Carolina trade defensemen

Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, announced Tuesday that the team has acquired defenseman Philip Samuelsson from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Keegan Lowe.

Samuelsson, 25, has five points (1g, 4a) and 21 penalty minutes in 40 American Hockey League (AHL) games this season with the St. John’s IceCaps. Originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, 61st overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Samuelsson (6’3”, 210 lbs.) has appeared in 13 career NHL games with the Penguins and Arizona Coyotes. The Leksand, Sweden, native has totaled 101 points (16g, 85a) and 266 penalty minutes in 344 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Portland, Springfield and St. John’s. He is the son of Charlotte Checkers Head Coach Ulf Samuelsson.

Lowe is a 73rd overall pick from the 2011 NHL Draft, and played two games with the Hurricanes in 2014-15.

Lowe has three goals and nine assists in 49 games with the Charlotte Checkers this season, and has spent his entire 2016-17 campaign in the AHL.

The 23-year-old prospect will report to the St. John’s IceCaps for the Habs.