Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Doug Janik from the Dallas Stars in exchange for forward Steve Begin.
Janik, 28, has played in 13 games for the Stars this season accumulating one assist and two penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 211-pound defenseman also competed in four games with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL posting two assists and four penalty minutes.
Janik is expected to join the Hamilton Bulldogs if he clears waivers by Saturday at noon ET.
The native of Agawam, Mass., has played in six NHL seasons, with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Dallas amassing 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) along with 121 penalty minutes. An AHL All-Star in 2004, Janik was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round, 55th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
Begin, 30, registered 10 points (six goals, four assists) and 27 penalty minutes in 42 games with Montreal this season. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound centre was claimed by the Canadiens from the Sabres on waivers on Oct. 3, 2003.
The native of Trois-Rivieres, Que., was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the second round, 40th overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. Begin won the Jack Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2001 when he helped the Saint John Flames to the AHL championship.
