Avalanche Acquire Shawn Belle from Oilers for Kevin Montgomery

The Colorado Avalanche announced today that they have acquired defenseman Shawn Belle from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Kevin Montgomery. Shawn Belle will qualify for group six unrestricted free agency this summer, while Montgomery will qualify for restricted free agency this summer. In five games this season with the Oilers, Belle has no points. He has also appeared in 39 games with Oklahoma City of the AHL, scoring three goals and 17 assists for 20 points and 61 penalty minutes. Montgomery has played in 51 games this season with Lake Erie of the AHL, scoring two goals and 17 assists for 19 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as both players will likely spend the rest of the season in the minors. Belle will bring plenty of toughness to Lake Erie's blueline, while Montgomery will bring some puckmoving skill to Oklahoma City.