Montreal sent forward riley kidney to the Ottawa Senators as the Canadiens acquired goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Jake Chiasson, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced on Friday. The exchange was completed ahead of the American Hockey League trade deadline. The move reshapes depth charts for both organizations at the AHL and ECHL levels.
Deal details: Shepard and Chiasson to Montreal
The Canadiens acquired Hunter Shepard and Jake Chiasson from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward riley kidney. Shepard has appeared in 15 AHL games with the Belleville Senators this season and holds a 6-7-2 record at that level. The 30-year-old netminder also brings limited NHL experience, with a 2-3-1 record in six career NHL games played with the Washington Capitals and the Ottawa Senators.
Jake Chiasson, 22, has registered one assist in 20 AHL games this season with Belleville. The 6-foot-2, 181-pound forward has also skated in 16 ECHL games with the Allen Americans this season, producing eight points (2 goals, 6 assists). Chiasson is an Abbotsford, British Columbia native and was selected in the fourth round, 116th overall, in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.
Immediate reactions and roster context
Kent Hughes, general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, announced the deal on Friday. The Senators completed two trades with Montreal ahead of the American Hockey League trade deadline, with this exchange moving depth pieces between the organizations. The trade shifts goaltending depth toward Montreal while Ottawa takes on a forward with professional experience in both the AHL and ECHL.
Riley Kidney: Incoming option for Belleville and Ottawa
The Senators received riley kidney in the swap. Kidney was a second-round pick by Montreal, taken 63rd overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and has spent the majority of the 2025-26 season with the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the ECHL, collecting 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 46 games. He has also skated in six AHL games this season with the Laval Rocket, recording one assist.
Over a three-year professional career, Kidney has appeared in 127 AHL games and registered 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists), all with the Laval Rocket. Prior to turning pro, Kidney played 218 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Acadie-Bathurst and Gatineau, posting 281 points (76 goals, 205 assists) and winning a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship. Ottawa’s addition of Kidney brings a forward with a history of junior scoring and pro-level seasoning.
What’s next for both clubs
Both teams reshuffle AHL and ECHL depth as the trade deadline activity concludes. The Canadiens add an experienced minor-league goaltender and a young forward with ECHL production, while the Senators add a forward who has produced across AHL and ECHL levels and carries significant junior credentials. Further moves could follow as organizations finalize rosters ahead of playoff and late-season preparations.
Montreal’s front office action was announced on Friday; riley kidney will join the Senators’ system as that club integrates him into its AHL and ECHL plans.
