Fantasy Impact: The Montreal Canadiens have acquired winger Zack Kassian and a fifth-round pick in 2016 for winger Brandon Prust.

The Canadiens get: A winger who can provide a potential upgrade to their offense. Kassian showed flashes of brilliance in Vancouver, particularly when he was the lucky linemate of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. However, his propensity to disappear for long stretches and his lack of reliability on defense meant that three Canucks coaches – Alain Vigneault, John Tortorella, and Willie Desjardins – could not trust him enough to give him more than 13 minutes per game in any of his three seasons in Vancouver.

The Canucks get: A winger who will provide more than enough tenacity and grit. Prust, who has reached 100 penalty minutes for five consecutive seasons, should help Derek Dorsett with many of the difficult battles on a team that is not known for its toughness.

Fantasy Players Impacted:

Canucks: Kassian's departure should guarantee more top-6 minutes for Alex Burrows, as he should battle Radim Vrbata for time with the Sedins. Kassian mainly played on the third and fourth line with the Sedins, although injuries and line juggling pushed him higher occasionally. Prust's role should be on either the third or fourth line for the Canucks, so his value should remain unchanged and his arrival in Vancouver/departure from Montreal shouldn't affect anyone scoring-wise. He is only a worthwhile option in deep leagues that count penalty minutes.

Canadiens: Brendan Gallagher should be firmly cemented on the right side of the Habs' top line, so Kassian could battle fellow former Canuck Dale Weise and Devante Smith-Pelly for second-line minutes. Michel Therrien likes to try new players on the top lines, so Kassian could find himself on the second line initially. Whether he sticks is another matter, although there's always the chance that a change of scenery could kickstart the former first-round pick's career. Plus remember that he's still only 24, so there's still some time for him to become a reliable NHLer and fantasy option if he gets his head in the game. If Kassian happens to stick on the second line, he’s the kind of big winger that could create time and space for the smaller playmaker David Desharnais.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Kassian
2. Burrows
3. Vrbata
4. 1. Desharnais

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Weise
2. Smith-Pelly

Fantasy owners are discussing this signing now – give your take right here!