TRADE | Montreal Canadiens Acquire Forwards Joseph Blandisi, Jacob Lucchini from Pittsburgh Penguins for Forwards Riley Barber, Phil Varone

MONTREAL, QC. — On Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens announced that general manager Marc Bergevin traded forwards Riley Barber and Phil Varone to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forwards Joseph Blandisi and Jacob Lucchini.

In 21 games with the Penguins this season, Blandisi recorded two goals, three assists for five points. The 25-year-old also tallied six goals, eight assists for 14 points in 26 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. 

In 53 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lucchini scored seven goals, eight assists for 15 points. 

Barber led the Laval Rocket with .79 points per game this season. The 26-year-old forward recorded 13 goals, 18 assists for 31 points in 39 games. He also played nine games for the Canadiens.

In 27 games with Laval, Varone scored four goals, 10 assists for 14 points.

Barber and Varone both signed one-year, two-way contracts with the Canadiens in July 2019.