The Montreal Canadiens traded backup goalie Al Montoya to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft pick Thursday night.
Montoya has not played a game since a Nov. 4 contest against the Winnipeg Jets due to a concussion he sustained. In four appearances with Montreal this season the 32-year-old was 2-1-0 with a 3.77 goals-against average and .863 save percentage.
The Canadiens claimed Antti Niemi off waivers from the Florida Panthers in November for added depth in the crease when Carey Price was out with a lower-body injury and the Vantaa, Finland native has performed admirably when called upon.
Montoya has a $1,062,500 salary cap hit and is under contract through the 2018-19 campaign. He went 10-7-4 in 21 starts in a Canadiens uniform after signing with the team as a free agent in 2016.
Laurent Brossoit, the Oilers’ current backup netminder, is a pending restricted free agent who has struggled this season. In 13 appearances this season, Brossoit is 3-7-1 with a .886 save percentage and 3.22 GAA.
