Trade Grade: Montreal Canadians Trade Ben Chiarot to the Florida Panthers

With the NHL trade deadline 5 days there is a lot of transactions to occur especially trades. Well one of those trades just happened between the Montreal Canadians and Florida Panthers and it involves defenseman Ben Chiarot.

Florida Panthers Acquire: D Ben Chiarot
Montreal Canadians Acquire: F Tyler Smilanic, 2023 1st Round Pick, and 2022 4th Round Pick

Montreal Canadians Side

The Montreal Canadians continue to show how they are in a deep fire sale during the deadline. There are going nowhere this season and their plan is to blow it up and start the rebuilding process. They need to focus on the future and deals like this are a big help for the future of this team. It was clear Ben Chiarot was not the future for the Canadians due to being 30 years old and in the final year of his deal. Why not get value for him now then loose him in free agency for next to nothing. The Canadians get two draft picks and Tyler Smilanic who is a great prospect. Tyler Smilanic is a left handed forward who is 6’1 and 174 lbs. Smilanic was selected by Florida in the 3rd round (74th Overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. He currently plays in the NCAA with Quinnipiac University and he has a lot of potential. Now Montreal in this deal will be retaining 50% of Chiarot’s salary. He had a 3.5 million dollar cap hit originally so the Canadians are going to save around 1.75 million in salary cap which is another postive as well.

Florida Panthers Side

Uhhh Panthers are you okay right now? You do realize that you just traded a 1st round pick and a good prospect for a declining gritty defenseman right. Look I get the move as the Panthers are aiming for a deep playoff push and a chance at winning a Stanley Cup, however this move is just perplexing to make. First the Panthers did not need to get a gritty defenseman as they already had that in Radko Gudas. Heck even Patric Hornqvist is a gritty player as well for the team. They also are sacrificing an unprotected 1st round pick for a guy who could be gone in free agency in the upcoming offseason. Chiarot on the ice has suffered a lot of regression, especially on defense which the Panthers need. Just looking at him analytically down below with the Stats in Question via defense. All I have to say is, oh dear.

On a side note this move makes a lot more sense as to why they traded Frank Vatrano to the New York Rangers earlier today. Fun fact the 4th round pick in this deal was the one that they acquired via the Frank Vatrano trade.

The Stats in Question.

Grades for Ben Chiarot Trade
Montreal Canadians: A
Florida Panthers: C-

No question with who wins this trade. The Canadians got draft capital to play with, a nice prospect in Tyler Smilanic, and cap space. The Panthers while they do get a gritty defenseman definitely overpaid in order to get Ben Chiarot’s services for there Stanley Cup push. Hopefully it works out for Florida because it is a very risky move for them to make. Overall great move by Montreal Canadians GM Kent Hughes.