We are closing in on the NHL Trade Deadline on April 12, and the Buffalo Sabres are not waiting around to move center Eric Staal off the roster.
The Sabres have dealt Staal to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for third and fifth round picks in the 2021 NHL Draft. TSN hockey insider Frank Seravalli was the first to report the pending move for the Sabres.
The Sabres are retaining $1.625 million of Staal's cap hit and are saving $565,000 in real dollars with the move.
According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Staal waived his no trade clause to go to Montreal.
In 32 games with the Sabres this season, the 36-year-old scored just three goals and added seven assists for 10 points.
Staal gives Montreal some needed depth at the center position behind Phillip Danault and Nick Suzuki.
The Sabres acquired Staal from the Minnesota Wild in September in exchange for forward Marcus Johansson.
Johansson has dealt with injuries for most of the season in Minnesota, but has been playing on the Wild's second line since his return to the ice a few weeks ago.