Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Habs address blueline, acquire Schlemko from Vegas

San Jose Sharks v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 19: David Schlemko #5 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck during the third period of the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on November 19, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Sharks 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Having already moved on from Nathan Beaulieu, Alexei Emelin and Mikhail Sergachev, the Habs continued to remodel their defense on Thursday by acquiring David Schlemko from Vegas.

Schlemko, who spent last season with the Sharks, was acquired by the Golden Knights at last night’s expansion draft. Vegas will receive Montreal’s fifth-round pick in 2019 as part of the deal.

Signed to a four-year, $8.4 million deal last summer, Schlemko had high expectations in San Jose. GM Doug Wilson trumpeted him as a “solid puck-moving defenseman” and while Schlemko did show it at times, he also had his low points.

He was a healthy scratch midway through the year, and missed some time with a lower-body injury. All told, he had 18 points in 62 games, while averaging 16:45 TOI per night.

It’s unlikely that Habs GM Marc Bergevin is done here. While Schlemko is a decent pickup, he’s only one of five d-men under contract for next season, along with Shea Weber, Jeff Petry, Brandon Davidson and Jordie Benn. Andrei Markov is an unrestricted free agent, and it’s unclear if he’ll be brought back.

Related: Vegas has 15 d-men, but won’t keep them all