Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Friday the acquisition of forward Garth Murray from the New York Rangers in return for left wing Marcel Hossa.
Murray, 23, will immediately join the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Murray, a left-handed centerman, was a third-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2001. In 186 AHL games with Hartford since turning pro late in the 2001-02 season, the 6-foot-2, 213-pound native of Regina, Sask., tallied 25 goals, 30 assists and 462 penalty minutes, including nine points (4g, 5a) and 182 PIM in 2004-05.
Murray made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 2003-04, appearing in 20 games and registering one goal and 24 PIM.
Hossa, 23, played in 59 NHL games with the Canadiens between 2001 and 2004, scoring 10 goals and nine assists.
In 144 AHL contests with Quebec and Hamilton, the former first-round draft pick (16th overall, 2000) of the Canadiens recorded 54 goals and 50 assists for 104 points. He reached the Calder Cup Finals with the Bulldogs in 2003.
Hossa, a native of Ilava, Slovakia, is the brother of Atlanta Thrashers star Marian Hossa.
