The Montreal Canadiens added an important future asset last summer for nothing in return. In fact, they added an important future asset as well as Sean Monahan for nothing in return.
The trade went down last summer, in the middle of August, which is typically a very quiet time on the NHL calendar. The Canadiens had cap space, and used it to their advantage to get a future first round pick from the Calgary Flames.
The Flames were looking to clear space to sign Nazem Kadri and needed to move out the final year of Monahan’s $6.