Canadiens acquire Alexandre Carrier from Predators for Justin Barron

As Thursday’s holiday roster freeze approaches, the Montreal Canadiens have made a move in dealing defenseman Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for fellow rearguard Alexandre Carrier.

A 28-year-old native of Quebec City, Carrier has made 28 appearances with the Predators this season in which he has collected one goal and six assists for seven points. A fourth-round pick by Nashville in the 2015 NHL Draft, Carrier has spent part of seven seasons with the Predators counting 245 career contests that have seen him register 69 points counting 11 goals and 58 assists. Carrier finished with a career high of 30 points through 77 games in the 2021-22 campaign.

Carrier has missed the Predators’ past four games with an upper-body ailment and was placed on the injured reserve by the club last Thursday. Per PuckPedia, Carrier is in the first season of a three-year pact that carries a $3.75-million annual average value.

In Barron, the Predators receive a 23-year-old rearguard who has made 17 appearances with the Canadiens this season, registering one goal. The Halifax, N.S., native has split the past two seasons between the Canadiens and the Laval Rocket, the club’s top-minor league affiliate. In 2023-24, Barron recorded 13 points counting seven goals and six assists through 48 appearances with the Canadiens in addition to two goals and nine assists for 11 points through 32 outings with the Rocket.

Barron was originally acquired by the Canadiens from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2022 trade deadline in the deal that sent left winger Artturi Lehkonen to Denver. In all, Barron made a pair of appearances with the Avalanche prior to his move to Montreal. Through 111 career contests, Barron has tallied 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points.

Per PuckPedia, Barron is under contract at a $1.15-million annual average value through the 2025-26 campaign, when he can become a restricted free agent.