Canadiens And Ducks Swap AHL Scorers

Farrell recently finished up his third season with the Laval Rocket, where he was a very productive offensive player for the Montreal Canadiens’ affiliate. In 186 AHL games, Farrell scored 46 goals and 125 points with the Rocket. He also contributed three goals and 12 points in 18 playoff games. This past season, Farrell put up 17 goals and a career-high 53 points in 72 games, finishing third in team scoring.

The 5-foot-10 diminutive forward played six games in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens at the end of the 2022-23 season, following a great sophomore season at Harvard University. Farrell scored his first NHL goal in his final game of the 2022-23 season with the Canadiens. 

Pastujov, who is joining the Montreal Canadiens organization, is a 23-year-old 6-foot 183-pound forward who has been a solid point-getter at the AHL level, similar to Farrell. He is coming off a career-high 21 goals and 57 points in 71 games with the San Diego Gulls. However, during the 2024-25 season, following a stint in the ECHL, Pastujov registered over a point per game with the Gulls, putting up 17 goals and 45 points in 43 AHL games. 

While Pastujov has shown that his offensive skills work at the AHL level, he hasn’t been able to prove that it works at the NHL level. A big part of this is that there was no place for him on one of the top two lines in the NHL. Unfortunately, his lack of physicality makes him unable to work well in a bottom-six role and therefore has yet to be given a chance at the NHL level. 

However, if an injury happens in the top six, the Canadiens may decide to give him a chance.  Whether or not they see him as an injury replacement at some point, expect the Montreal Canadiens to sign Pastujov to a two-way contract before the off-season ends.

Overall, this trade is a move where two teams swap talented offensive players who can produce well in the AHL but neither have what it takes to be NHL regulars.