Canadiens trade defenceman Joel Edmundson to Capitals for draft picks

The Montreal Canadiens traded defenceman Joel Edmundson to the Washington Capitals for a third-round and a seventh-round draft pick in 2024 on Saturday.

Montreal will retain 50 per cent of Edmundson's salary.

Edmundson had two goals and 11 assists in 61 games last season, his third with the Canadiens.

The 30-year-old has one year remaining on his contract at $3.5 million US.

Edmunson began his career in St. Louis, where he won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019, before he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes before the following season.

The Canadiens traded for the rights to sign him in September 2020.

The New York Rangers have signed former Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler to a one-year contract, the team announced Saturday.

New York did not disclose the terms of the deal.

Wheeler served as Winnipeg's captain for seven years before having the title stripped from him at the start of training camp by new head coach Rick Bowness, who then installed a three-alternate leadership group of Adam Lowry, Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele.

In 1,118 games over the course of his NHL career, he has 312 goals and 610 assists.

The 36-year-old winger produced 16 goals and 39 assists in 72 games last season.

The Ottawa Senators have signed two young players ahead of next season.

Defenceman Erik Brannstrom agreed to a one-year deal, while fellow blueliner Jacob Bernard-Docker has signed a two-year, $1.61 million US contract.

Brannstrom's contract is for $2 million for the 2023-24 NHL season.

Bernard-Docker, 23, split last season with the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League as well as the Senators.

He earned one assist and posted 11 penalty minutes over 19 games with Ottawa.