Merrill traded to Canadiens by Red Wings

Jon Merrill was traded to the Montreal Canadiens by the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday for Hayden Verbeek and a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The 29-year-old defenseman can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. He has five assists in 36 games.

"You know the history that comes with the organization and all the Stanley Cups and the success they've had, so I'm real honored to be a part of all that," Merrill said Tuesday. "As far as the current team, I know they've got some real high-end skill up front, game-changers that are scoring a lot of goals this year, [center Tyler] Toffoli especially. Those guys are lighting it up. Then you've got the big horses on the back end that kind of carry the heavy lifting for the D-corps and I know they've got great goaltending. So a lot of good things with that group and I'm looking to come in and just be a part of it any way I can.

"It's exciting to be in the mainstream of the hockey world right there, in the heart of it all, so I'm excited about it."

The Canadiens (18-12-9) are fourth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, eight points ahead of the Calgary Flames, who they host Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, RDS, NHL.TV). The top four teams in each of the four divisions will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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"I'll be ready to go, whether it's 20 minutes a night or 12, I'm ready to go and really excited about the opportunity to play some playoff games and play some meaningful games down the stretch," Merrill said.

Merrill has scored 66 points (12 goals, 54 assists) in 392 regular-season games for the New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Red Wings, and has one assist in 16 playoff games.

"Jon Merrill is a defenseman who's mobile, moves the puck, has good size and according to our scouts he's had a good season in Detroit," Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Monday.

The Red Wings (15-23-6) are last in the eight-team Discover Central Division, 11 points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators.

"I thought whoever ended up trading for 'Jonny,' if somebody did, they were going to get a real good addition," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said Sunday. "First off, I think he's a good player. He's kind of a jack-of-all-trades. He can play the left. He can play the right. He can kill penalties. He can play up and down your lineup a little bit. But probably the most important for me is that he's got confidence and moxie of a guy that you want in those big-pressure situations in the playoffs. He's not going to be one bit afraid of the moment. He's going to seize the moment. That's what I was most impressed with about Jonny. I really enjoyed having him."

The 2021 fifth-round pick received by Detroit for Merrill previously was acquired by Montreal from the Ottawa Senators.

The Red Wings also got a 2021 fourth-round pick in a three-team trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning that sent defenseman David Savard to Tampa Bay on Saturday. Detroit traded defenseman Patrik Nemeth to the Colorado Avalanche on Friday for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Verbeek, a 23-year-old undrafted forward prospect, scored three points (one goal, two assists) in seven games for Laval of the American Hockey League this season. His uncle, Pat Verbeek, played 20 seasons in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.

The Canadiens placed defenseman Victor Mete on waivers Sunday. The 22-year-old, who can become a restricted free agent after the season, was claimed by the Ottawa Senators on Monday. He has three assists in 14 games and was a healthy scratch for Montreal's 5-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on April 10.

Forward Eric Staal was acquired by Montreal from the Buffalo Sabres on March 26 for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2021.

NHL.com columnist Dave Stubbs contributed to this report