Canadiens deal Rychel to Flames for Shinkaruk

Photos: Andy Nietupski, Laval Rocket

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Hunter Shinkaruk from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Kerby Rychel.

Shinkaruk (24th overall) and Rychel (19th overall) were both first-round picks in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Shinkaruk, 23, skated in 63 games for the AHL’s Stockton Heat in 2017-18, recording 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points.

In 251 career AHL games with Stockton and Utica, Shinkaruk has totaled 75 goals and 74 assists for 149 points. He also has six goals and three assists in 28 postseason contests, reaching the Calder Cup Finals with Utica in 2015.

An AHL All-Star in 2016, Shinkaruk has two goals and two assists in 15 career NHL contests with Calgary and Vancouver.

Rychel, 23, played 71 AHL games last season between Laval and Toronto, totaling 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points. He added one goal and one assist in four appearances with Montreal.

Rychel has skated in 232 regular-season games in the AHL with Laval, Toronto, Lake Erie and Springfield, registering 55 goals and 99 assists for 154 points. He has tallied three goals and eight assists in 28 playoff games, and won a Calder Cup with Lake Erie in 2016.

An AHL All-Star in 2017, Rychel has totaled three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 41 career NHL games with Montreal and Columbus.