by Rookie, AllHabs.net
from Avalanche.NHL.com:
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Ryan O’Byrne from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for forward prospect Michael Bournival.
O’Byrne, 26, has skated in three games for the Canadiens this season, tallying no points and four penalty minutes. The 6-foot-5, 234-pound defenseman was Montreal’s third-round pick (79th overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft. He dressed in a career-high 55 games during the 2009-10 season (1g/3a) and also appeared in 13 of Montreal’s 19 playoff contests.
“Ryan is another young defenseman who will add size and depth to our team,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman.
A native of Victoria, B.C., O’Byrne has appeared in 128 career NHL games, tallying 16 points (2g/14a) and 181 PIM. He played three seasons for Cornell University (ECAC) prior to signing with Montreal.
Bournival was Colorado’s third selection (third round, 71st overall) in the 2010 Entry Draft and currently plays for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
From the Canadiens official press release:
MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens General Manager, Pierre Gauthier, announced Thursday the acquisition of forward Michaël Bournival from the Colorado Avalanche in return for defenseman Ryan O’Byrne.
The 18-year old Bournival played 17 games with the QMJHL Shawinigan Cataractes thus far this season, recording a team leading 24 points (10 goals and 14 assists) and serving 10 penalty minutes. He also scored one goal in two games for Team QMJHL at the 2010 Subway Super Series.
Since the 2008-09 season, the 6’ and 187 lbs center has tallied 108 points (45 goals, 63 assists) in 121 games with the Cataractes. Bournival was also assessed 76 penalty minutes.A native of Shawinigan, he played minor hockey in the region, including a season with the Trois-Rivières Estacades of the Midget AAA league (33 goals, 23 assists in 52 games) and joined his hometown QMJHL team in 2008-09 before being drafted in the third round, 71st overall by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Bournival also represented Canada at the U-18 World Championship in 2009, scoring twice and adding an assist in six games.
Ryan O’Byrne was pointless in three games with the Canadiens this season. He was credited with 11 hits and five blocked shots with an average time on ice of 14 minutes and 54 seconds.
Since he first joined the NHL, O’Byrne has amassed 16 points (2 goals and 14 helpers), served 181 penalty minutes and maintained a -3 plus/minus ratio in 128 NHL regular season games with the Canadiens.