With veteran defenseman Andrei Markov still on the shelf and general manager Marc Bergevin looking to beef up his club's blue line, the Montreal Canadiens found a temporary solution Thursday in Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Nikita Nesterov.
Related: Canadiens add defensive depth in trade for Nesterov
The Canadiens acquired Nesterov in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick and defender Jonathan Racine. With the 23-year-old Nesterov likely to debut after the All-Star break, here are a few things for Montreal fans and interested observers to keep in mind:
1. He gets a thumbs-up from fancy stats
While Nesterov was fairly sheltered through the 35 games he played in Lightning colors this season - starting 66 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone - he did come out on top when it came to his possession metrics.
Nesterov led all Lightning defensemen in even-strength Corsi For rating, posting a strong mark of 54 percent this season. That percentage was also good for fifth-best among all Lightning skaters.
He hasn't been wholly consistent in this area, as he finished with 50 percent in 2015-16. However, Nesterov topped 54 percent in his 27-game go-round in the big leagues in 2014-15 as well.
2. He's as versatile as they come
The young rearguard manned both sides of the rink for the Lightning this season, splitting time with partners Braydon Coburn, Jason Garrison, and Anton Stralman. He even spent a fair chunk of time with Tampa Bay's blue-line leader, Victor Hedman.
Of course, the most obvious example of Nesterov's versatility is the fact that he's been used as a forward on a number of occasions. He first got the call to play on the front lines during his time in the KHL. But Lightning coach Jon Cooper has tried him out on the club's fourth line at times as well - and Nesterov hasn't disappointed.
"He can skate, he's physical, he engages, he's got a good stick," Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith in December. "He can do them both at forward and D. He's been kind of a utility guy."
3. He's a project, but he's cheap
For all his skill and potential, Nesterov comes with an extraordinarily reasonable contract, as he's owed only $725,000 this season. He's in the midst of a one-year deal signed with the Lightning after playing out his three-year entry-level pact.
He's a restricted free agent after this season, but since Nesterov hasn't exactly lit the league on fire throughout his 119 career games, it's fair to assume he'll be paid a pretty reasonable sum on his next deal as well.
That's excellent news for Montreal, as the club houses four defenders making over $4 million per season - with those annual salaries stretching as high as $7.9 million for Shea Weber.
Nesterov didn't cost the organization very much in terms of the trade itself either. Racine - who's the same age as Nesterov - has earned only one game in the big leagues, and the sixth-round pick won't set the club back much.
All in all, it's a strong move by Bergevin to bring in Nesterov as the perfect low-risk, high-reward option on the Canadiens' blue line.
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