When the Canadiens moved to add depth in their system, the transaction sheet included the name jake chiasson — a 22-year-old forward who will report directly to the Lions de Trois-Rivières after being acquired from the Senators organization in a swap that sent Riley Kidney to Ottawa.
How did this trade happen and what changed in the organization?
The deal was announced by general manager Kent Hughes: the Canadiens received goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward jake chiasson from the Senators in exchange for Riley Kidney. The move was part of a pair of organizational transactions that also involved the Rocket’s Ryan O’Rourke being dealt to Belleville for future considerations.
The immediate roster effect in the Canadiens’ system is clear: Laval’s depth in goal is bolstered with Shepard joining the Rocket, while Trois-Rivières will add a young forward when jake chiasson reports to that AHL club. The sequence of moves followed the return of Jacob Fowler to Montréal, which left the Rocket adjusting personnel ahead of road games against Utica and Syracuse.
What does Jake Chiasson bring to the Lions de Trois-Rivières?
Chiasson, 22, comes into the Canadiens’ system with a modest statistical profile this season. He recorded one assist in 20 games with the Belleville Senators in the AHL and produced eight points in 16 games with the Allen Americans in the ECHL, including two goals. The forward, native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, was originally drafted in the fourth round, 116th overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
Given those facts, the immediate expectation is that jake chiasson will be given an opportunity to play regular minutes in Trois-Rivières and continue his development at the AHL level. The club’s decision to assign him directly to the Lions signals a plan to integrate him into that lineup rather than keep him in Laval.
Why was Riley Kidney moved, and how are other parts of the system shifting?
Riley Kidney, a second-round pick by Montreal in 2021, was exchanged after a body of work that, in the organization’s view, did not reach the level anticipated at the time of his drafting. Kidney had spent most of the season with the Lions de Trois-Rivières, posting 33 points, including 11 goals, in 46 games there, but was limited to six appearances with the Rocket this season.
At the same time, the Rocket addressed its goaltending by adding Hunter Shepard. Shepard played 15 games in the AHL with Belleville this season and carries a 6-7-2 record at that level. He also has six NHL appearances over his career, compiling a 2-3-1 ledger with Washington and Ottawa. Organizational planning around the Rocket’s goaltending pair will likely leave Kaapo Kahkonen and Shepard forming the tandem for the club’s immediate schedule.
Elsewhere in the system, the exchange of Ryan O’Rourke to Belleville and the expected arrival of Luke Mittelstadt to the Rocket mean the affiliates are continuing to shuffle roster pieces to fit short- and long-term needs.
The transactions were framed by the front office as targeted adjustments: a veteran netminder to add depth, a young forward to slot into Trois-Rivières, and a change of scenery for a prospect who had stalled in his development path within the organization.
Returning to the opening note, the name jake chiasson arriving on the Lions’ roster represents a small but tangible change in a system that is juggling goaltending, development slots and playing time. For the player, it is a fresh chance to carve a role at the AHL level; for the organization, it is another inventory move as the season progresses and personnel needs evolve.
