The Montreal Canadiens, parent club of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, announced today the acquisition of forwards Blake Geoffrion and Robert Slaney, as well as a second-round draft pick in 2012, from the Nashville Predators in return for defenseman Hal Gill and a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2013.
The 24-year-old Geoffrion played 22 games with the Predators this season. He registered three assists, 29 hits and 17 penalty minutes, playing an average of 10 minutes and 20 seconds per game. In his second year in professional hockey this season, he also played with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals recording nine points, including two goals, in 20 games.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound left wing has collected 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 42 regular season games in the NHL. Geoffrion displays a career +1 plus/minus differential. He added two assists in 12 playoff games in 2010-11, along with a +1 plus/minus ratio.
Geoffrion was drafted in the second round, 56th overall by the Predators at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He was awarded the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in 2010.
Slaney, 23, notched one assist in nine games with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, and 18 points (11 goals, 7 assists) in 30 games with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones this season.
A product of the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound left wing has registered eight assists in 52 career games in the AHL. The Upper Cove Island, N.L., native signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Apr. 14, 2009, and was acquired from Toronto by the Predators on July 3, 2011.
Gill played 53 games this season with the Canadiens registering eight points (1 goal, 7 assists). He recorded 48 hits and 122 blocked shots, playing an average of 16 minutes and 44 seconds per game. Since joining the NHL, Gill has recorded 179 points (36 goals and 143 helpers) and maintained a +43 plus/minus ratio in 1,047 NHL regular season games.
