Canadiens announce trade, moves

Montreal Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced today the acquisition of forward Petteri Nokelainen and defenseman Garrett Stafford from the Phoenix Coyotes in return for forward Brock Trotter and a seventh-round draft pick in 2012.

Stafford will report to the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs.

In six games this season with the AHL Portland Pirates, Stafford, 31, collected four points (one goal, three assists). In seven NHL career games with the Detroit Red Wings, Dallas Stars and Coyotes, the 6-foot-1, 207-pound defenseman has tallied two assists.

A native of Los Angeles, Stafford joined the Coyotes as a free agent on July 3, 2010. In 568 career games in the AHL, he has registered 321 points (84 goals, 237 assists).

Trotter played five games with the Bulldogs this season and registered seven points (two goals, five assists), and has 59 goals and 83 assists for 142 points in 177 career AHL games with Hamilton. Trotter played two games in his career with the Canadiens in the NHL.

In addition to the trade, Montreal has recalled forward Mike Blunden from Hamilton, and assigned forwards Andreas Engqvist and Aaron Palushaj to the Bulldogs.