The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets made a minor-league swap on Thursday, with the Habs acquiring forward Michael Blunden from Columbus in return for forward Ryan Russell.
Blunden, 24, played 37 games with the AHL Springfield Falcons in 2010-11, recording 21 points (12 goals, 9 assists) and serving 41 penalty minutes. Blunden also appeared in one NHL game with the Blue Jackets.
Blunden suited up in a total of 51 career regular season games in the NHL with Chicago and Columbus, including a 40-game season with the Blue Jackets in 2009-10, registering four points and 59 penalty minutes.
A native of Toronto, Blunden was drafted in the second round, 43rd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Russell played 65 games with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs in 2010-11, recording 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists). Acquired from the New York Rangers on May 31, 2007 in return for a seventh-round draft pick in 2007, he registered 100 points (51 goals, 49 assists) in 100 career games with the Bulldogs between 2007 and 2011.
