A few hours before facing the Penguins on Wednesday evening, the Montreal Canadiens claimed forward Colin White from the Pittsburgh club, in addition to placing Brandon Gignac on waivers.
The Habs therefore obtain a 27-year-old right-handed center with 303 games of experience in the NHL. The Bleu-blanc-rouge added that White had to face his former team in the evening.
White was selected in the first round, 21st overall, by the Ottawa Senators in 2015. He never really lived up to expectations after that.
He has only 36 goals and 62 assists in 224 games with the Senators, who finally let him test the free agent market in the summer of 2022. He had his best moments during the 2018-19 season, when he accumulated 41 points, including 14 goals, in 71 games.
White then played for the Florida Panthers. He was part of the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring of 2023, recording two assists in 21 games.
However, he was unable to carve out a regular position with the Penguins this season. He was shut out of the scoresheet in 11 games. He also played 21 games with their school club in the American Hockey League, collecting five goals and as many assists.
Despite his limited usage in the NHL this season, White posted a 70.6% efficiency in the faceoff circle.
For his part, Gignac played seven games and scored one goal with the Canadian, after signing a contract with the big club on February 4. He had an efficiency of 45.3% on faceoffs.
The 26-year-old native of Repentigny will be sold to the Laval Rocket, if the 31 other NHL teams do not claim him by 2 p.m. Friday.
Gignac scored 14 goals and 28 assists in 43 games with the Rocket this season.