Canadiens Acquire Filip Cederqvist From Sabres

3:44 p.m.: Cederqvist is planning to return to Sweden at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, The Athletic’s Lance Lysowski reports. While this won’t be a long-term investment from Montreal, Cederqvist is a serviceable minor-league stopgap who will help fill out the roster of a Laval squad that’s dealing with multiple long-term injuries.

2:54 p.m.: The Canadiens acquired forward prospect Filip Cederqvist from the Sabres in exchange for future considerations on Thursday.

Cederqvist, 23, was a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Just a few seasons ago, he was regarded as one of the Sabres’ higher-ceiling prospects after posting 14 goals and 32 points in 49 games with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League as a 21-year-old in the 2021-22 campaign, good enough for second on the team.

However, his transition to North America has not gone well. Lost in the shuffle among the Sabres’ glut of forward prospects, Cederqvist underwhelmed with nine goals and 20 points in 55 games for AHL Rochester last season, his first in North America. This season has been almost a complete throwaway for Cederqvist, though, who has one goal and three assists through 19 games.

With the Sabres having no need for his services and his poor AHL production causing major concern, it’s no surprise he could be had for free on the trade market. Cederqvist will now likely report to AHL Laval and look to regain confidence in a new organization. The 6-foot-3 Swede can play both left wing and center.

If he doesn’t pan out, it’s a low-risk investment for the Canadiens. He’s in the final season of his two-year, entry-level contract, meaning he can be cut loose at the end of the season if Montreal doesn’t issue him a qualifying offer. He would then be a UFA and could return to Europe or sign on with a third NHL team.