Anaheim Ducks acquire F Jiri Sekac from the Canadiens for F Davante Smith-Pelly

The Anaheim Ducks have acquired left wing Jiri Sekac from the Montreal Canadiens for right wing Davante Smith-Pelly.

With just a week before the NHL trade deadline, the Ducks and Canadiens have made a deal.

The Anaheim Ducks have traded right wing Davante Smith-Pelly to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for left wing Jiri Sekac. Sekac was acquired by the Canadiens during this past offseason as an undrafted free agent. Smith-Pelly was a former second-round pick by the Ducks in 2010.

It’s an interesting trade, as both players are depth forwards on their respective teams. Sekac has registered 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points in 50 games with the Canadiens, while Smith-Pelly has registered 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 54 games with the Ducks. Both players aren’t exactly lighting it up right now, but they are both just 22 years old and have good offensive potential.

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Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien seemed to have a difficult time of finding a proper place for Sekac in the lineup. There is no doubt about his offensive potential, but it seems like Sekac’s style of play didn’t suit the Canadiens playing style. Therrien likes his team to be a fast, hard-nosed, fore-checking team, and Sekac’s game is more a finesse game. There may be spot for Sekac in a top-six role with the Ducks now with Matt Beleskey out due to injury, where he can play with some more skilled forwards.

Smith-Pelly should fit right in on the Habs. He’s a hard-nosed, in your face player with good speed and is good on the fore-check. He’ll fill a bottom-six role right now for the Habs, but he definitely has top-six potential. He showed that in the playoffs last year, when he scored 5 goals in 12 games for the Ducks.

Also, the Canadiens seemed to be stocked up on the left-wing, while the Ducks are stocked up at right wing. With Smith-Pelly being a right wing and Sekac being a left wing, it gives both teams more balance to their offensive lines.

For what it’s worth, it also gives the Canadiens a bit of cap relief. Sekac held a cap hit of $1.35, while Smith-Pelly has a cap hit of just $800,o00. Both players are signed through next season.

It’s interesting to see Sekac get traded already, as he was such a hot commodity during the offseason. However, with both teams heading into their playoff push, the need to sure up their lineups would have to be now before next week’s trade deadline comes.

H/T SportsNet

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