Columbus Blue Jackets trade Mike Blunden to Montreal Canadiens for negotiating rights of Ryan Russell
Montreal Canadiens acquired right winger, Mike Blunden, as it traded its minor league club affiliate, Hamilton Bulldogs' player of the American Hockey League (AHL), Ryan Russell’s, negotiating rights to Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, announced by Montreal's general manager, Pierre Gauthier.
Blunden was drafted in the 2005 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft by Chicago Blackhawks as the 43rd overall pick in round-two.
The Toronto, Ontario, Canada native, began his official hockey career by playing with Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for four consecutive seasons, from 2002 to 2006.
Blunden played a total of 236 games with Otters and put up 181 points, 100 goals and 81 assists.
The 24-year-old forward was shifted to play with Norfolk Admirals in the AHL and played with them for two seasons.
Blunden played 10 games in two seasons with his original draft team, Chicago Blackhawks, during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons, in which he did not register any points.
Blunden continued to play for Rockford IceHogs in the AHL and was traded to Columbus Blue Jackets, thus, playing with Jackets' AHL affiliate club, Syracuse Crunch.
He registered a career-high of four points with 2 goals and 2 assists in 40 games during his first season with Blue Jackets, while finishing off with a plus-minus rating of four.
Last season, Blunden only played one game, in which he had two shot opportunities, but missed on both.
It is most likely that Blunden will play a major portion of next season with Montreal’s affiliate club, Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL.
Ryan Russell, a 24-year-old centre, hailing from Caroline, Alberta, Canada, has yet to play a game in the NHL.
He was drafted in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft as no. 211 overall in round-seven by New York Rangers, but continued to play in the minor leagues.
Throughout his eight-year minor league career, Russell has played with Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League (WHL), Hamilton Bulldogs after being traded to Montreal, and Cincinnati Cyclones in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
In all eight seasons, Russell reached the playoffs. Last season he put up strong numbers with Bulldogs, as he potted 37 points, 19 goals and 18 assists, in 74 games and finished with a plus-minus rating of 16.
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