Thursday, 17.06.2010 / 3:20 PM / moves

Montreal Canadiens

PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL – Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced Thursday the acquisition of forwards Lars Eller and Ian Schultz from the St. Louis Blues in return for netminder Jaroslav Halak.

Eller, 21, suited up for seven games with the Blues in 2009-10, scoring two goals and posting with a plus-2 differential while averaging 10:49 of ice time. The 6’1’’ and 198-pound centerman spent most of last season with the Blues’ AHL affiliate in Peoria where he was the Rivermen’s second-leading point-getter with 57 points (18-39-57) in 70 games. In addition to playing in the AHL All-Star Game, Eller finished ninth in the league with 22 assists on the power play.

A native of Herlev, Denmark, Eller was a first round selection, 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Prior to coming over to North America, Eller suited up with Boras HC in neighboring Sweden before being moving to Goteborg’s HC Vostra Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League, where he played from 2007 to 2009.

Schultz, 20, was 6th among team scoring leaders in 2009-10 with 55 points (24-31-55) in 70 games with the WHL Calgary Hitmen. Ten of his tallies were recorded on the powerplay and two more while his team was shorthanded. Schultz also served 150 penalty minutes. The 6’1’’ – 208 lbs power forward added 15 points in the 2009-10 WHL playoffs helping his team win the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

The St. Louis Blues’ third round, 87th overall selection in 2008 Schultz has an older brother, Jeff, who plays with the Washington Capitals.

A native of Calgary, Schultz was the recipient of the Hitmen’s Enmax Energy Humanitarian Award for 2010.