Canadiens acquire Scrivens from Oilers for Kassian

The Montreal Canadiens acquired goaltender Ben Scrivens from the Edmonton Oilers on Monday for forward Zack Kassian.

Montreal has been in need of veteran goaltending depth in the absence of Carey Price, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. Price has been out since Nov. 25 after he sustained his second lower-body injury of the season. The Canadiens have used rookie Mike Condon and backup Dustin Tokarski in his absence. There is no timeline on when Price will return.

Scrivens, 29, was with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, but he was the No. 1 goalie for the Oilers in 2014-15, when he was 15-26-11 with a 3.16 goals-against average and .890 save percentage. He also played for the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Scrivens is 42-56-17 with seven shutouts, a 2.90 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 129 NHL regular-season games.

"I'm definitely happy with how things played out," Scrivens said of the trade. "Definitely happy to get a new chance and a chance to play in the NHL again."

Kassian, who was suspended without pay while he was in Stage 2 of the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program this season, was reinstated Dec. 15 and immediately placed on waivers by the Canadiens. Kassian cleared waivers Dec. 16 and was assigned to St. John's of the American Hockey League but was asked by Montreal not to report. The Oilers assigned him to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

"He's got to show us, and if he doesn't, that'll be it," general manager Peter Chiarelli said in comments tweeted by the Oilers. "He's had issues, but he should be highly motivated."

Kassian, 24, was acquired July 1 by Montreal from Vancouver for veteran forward Brandon Prust. Kassian did not play in an NHL game for the Canadiens but has 35 goals and 66 points in 198 NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres and Canucks since being selected in the first round (No. 13) of the 2009 NHL Draft by Buffalo.

"The first thing that comes to me is size and a skill-set that goes with it," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "We're here to support him. ... If Zack happens to come back and have a great NHL career, we'll be very proud of him."