Fantasy Impact: Jets Move Mason, Armia to Habs

The Winnipeg Jets have traded goalie Steve Mason, right wing Joel Armia, a seventh-round pick in 2019, and a fourth-round pick in 2020 to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman Simon Bourque.
 

The Canadiens acquire forward Joel Armia, goaltender Steve Mason, a seventh-round draft pick in 2019 and a fourth-round pick in 2020 from the Winnipeg Jets, in exchange for defenseman Simon Bourque.

DETAILS -> https://t.co/M9SeD9NXPE.

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 30, 2018

The Jets get: Valuable, valuable cap space ($4.1 million per season) from Mason’s contract, which is payable for one more season. As well, Armia is an RFA who was also due for a pay increase. This really matters for the Jets because their chances of re-signing UFA Paul Stastny now improve. The Jets currently possess considerable cap space, but Connor Hellebuyck, Jacob Trouba, and Josh Morrissey (among many others) are all RFAs.

Bourque is a 21-year-old defenseman who played for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval last season. He was a sixth-round pick of the Habs back in 2015.

The Canadiens get: At first glance, this trade seemed puzzling from the Habs’ perspective, with Carey Price and Antti Niemi already under contract and Charlie Lindgren in the AHL. However…
 

Don't expect Steve Mason to be a @CanadiensMTL next season. He will be traded or his contract will be bought out.

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) June 30, 2018

UPDATE: Per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:
 

Steve Mason (MTL) and Tyler Ennis (MIN) are on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 30, 2018