The Montreal Canadiens traded left wing Ilya Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Less than two months after signing a one-year, $700K contract with the Canadiens following his contract termination with the LA Kings, Kovalchuk is on the move again. Owing to the Capitals’ limited salary-cap space, the Canadiens retained half of the 36-year-old winger’s cap hit.

The Montreal Canadiens trade Ilya Kovalchuk to the Washington Capitals (Photo via NHL Images).

Kovalchuk was considered washed-up following his unsuccessful tenure with the Kings but resurrected his career in Montreal. After netting nine points in 17 games in Los Angeles, he tallied 13 points in 22 games with the Habs.

His production had tailed off recently, but perhaps joining a deeper club like the Capitals will bring it back to life. The move also provides Kovalchuk with an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup.

 This move gives the Canadiens two picks in the third round of this year’s draft. They have 11 picks through the first five rounds.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed free-agent Zach Bogosian to a one-year, $1.3-million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bogosian became a free agent when the Buffalo Sabres yesterday terminated his contract. The 29-year-old defenseman struggled through injuries during his tenure with the Sabres. Earlier this season, he requested a trade and was a frequent healthy scratch.

The reason the Lightning made this move is likely tied to blueliner Erik Cernak suffering an injury in last night’s loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Bogosian could be an affordable fill-in for Cernak if he’s out for a long period.