MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens general manager, Kent Hughes, announced on Wednesday that defenseman Ben Chiarot has been traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward Tyler Smilanic, a 1st-round pick in 2023 and a 4th-round pick in 2022 previously acquired from the New York Rangers.
The Canadiens will retain 50% of Chiarot’s salary for the remainder of the 2021-22 season.
Smilanic, a left-handed forward, recorded 22 points (13 goals, 9 assists) in 38 games in his second season with Quinnipiac University in the NCAA. The 6’1” and 177 lbs centerman ranked second on the team in goals (tied with Oliver Chau). A Denver, CO native, Smilanic was selected in the third round (74th overall) by the Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Chiarot joined the Canadiens as a free agent, signing a three-year contract on July 4, 2019. The defenseman recorded 46 points in 164 games with Montreal.
