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Trade: Canucks acquire Diaz from Montreal for Weise

raphaeldiaz

In his first day back on the job, John Tortorella is getting himself a new player.

The Canucks have acquired Montreal defenseman Raphael Diaz in exchange for forward Dale Weise, it was announced on Monday. For Vancouver, the move makes sense as the club has lost the services of Kevin Bieksa (undisclosed) until after the Olympic break, along with fellow blueliner Chris Tanev (broken thumb).

Diaz, 28, is a pending UFA making $1.225 million this season. The Swiss rearguard -- he’ll be representing his country at the upcoming Olympics -- has 11 points in 46 games this season, but has been in and out of Montreal’s crowded blueline mix (the Habs had nine defensemen on NHL contracts and some good young prospects in AHL Hamilton). Diaz had been a healthy scratch in seven of Montreal’s last 10 games.

He’s not the most physical rearguard in the league, but was one of only three Canadiens with at least 100 blocked shots -- something that should fit Tortorella’s style well.

As for Weise, he’s spent the last three years in Vancouver carving a niche as a speedy, bottom-six checking forward that’s not afraid to fight. He showed some decent offensive upside this season -- scoring a career-high 12 points in just 44 games -- but, like Diaz, has been in and out of the lineup recently.

Weise, 25, is currently on a one-year, $750,000 deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent at season’s end.

“A young veteran with 162 games of experience at the NHL level, Weise is a winger with a physical style of play who brings additional toughness and grit to our group of forwards,” said Habs GM Marc Bergevin.