Unusual turn of events regarding Ben Chiarot

The saga surrounding defenseman Ben Chiarot is now over, as Wednesday night Kent Hughes sent him to the Florida Panthers. In return, the Habs got prospect Ty Smilanic, a first-round pick in 2023 and a fourth-round pick in 2022.

While we would have expected the veteran defenseman to leave Montreal and join his new team immediately, it looks like we'll get quite a turnaround.

As reported by Marco Normandin of Habsolumentfan.com, the Florida team, which is currently on the road, has reportedly asked Chiarot not to join the roster for the next two games, at Vegas on Thursday and Anaheim the following day.

Reporter George Richards, who covers the Panthers for The Athletic, said the defenseman would likely make his debut with his new team next Thursday against none other than the Montreal Canadiens, and at the Bell Centre.


This is an unusual situation for the former Canadiens defenceman, who will not be too unfamiliar with his first game with the Panthers. Despite the trade, he will still be in Montreal for a few days.

It will be interesting to see if the Habs organization will prepare something for him, considering that he had some good moments with the team over the last three seasons.

Ben Chiarot is not expected to join the #FlaPanthers for either of their next two games out west.

So his Panthers debut will most likely come March 24 in ... drumroll, please ... Montreal, against the Canadiens. https://t.co/lp602RqbR0- George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) March 17, 2022