The Chicago Blackhawks have acquired the rights to defenseman Steve Montador from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the conditional seventh-round pick which Chicago will receive from Florida as part of the Tomas Kopecky trade.
The 31-year-old Montador, set to become an unrestricted free agent at noon on Friday, has spent the past two seasons with the Sabres, finishing 2010-11 with 5 goals and 26 points in 73 regular-season games. He also recorded an assist in six playoff games.
Montador has played in 519 NHL games for the Flames, Panthers, Ducks, Bruins and Sabres, posting 28 goals, 117 points, 762 penalty minutes and a plus-27 rating. He's added 3 goals and 8 points in 43 postseason contests and went to the Stanley Cup Final with Calgary in 2004.
In exchange for Kopecky, the Blackhawks were due to receive the Panthers' seventh-round selection in the 2012 Entry Draft, presently conditional to Nashville. If that pick is not available, Florida will transfer its own seventh-round selection in the 2013 Entry Draft.
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