Predators Acquire Defenseman From the Montreal Canadiens

A day after facing off against the Montreal Canadiens, the Nashville Predators have now made a trade with them. On Friday evening, the Predators organization announced that they had acquired defenseman Jayden Struble from the Canadiens in exchange for a second round pick that originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Struble, a 25-year-old left-handed defenseman, has been a mainstay in the Canadiens' lineup for the last four seasons. Known mainly for his offensive ability during his time in collegiate and junior hockey, he hasn't been able to carry that offensive production into the NHL. 

Last season, Struble scored two goals and added 10 assists for 12 points in 59 games for the Canadiens. He also had 58 penalty minutes. During the Canadiens' playoff run, he failed to record a point in 12 games. 

The Predators' defensive core has struggled mightily to start the season and with William Trudeau out week-to-week, Struble will give Andrew Brunette another option to work with for the time being. 

“Jayden Struble is a 25-year-old physical defender who will add mobility and a hard-to-play against quality that will help our backend,” Predators General Manager Chris MacFarland said in a press release. “We are excited to watch his growth and look forward to him being a player who can grow with us.”