Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 2:00pm

HABS GET SCHNEIDER BACK

The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Mathieu Schneider and a conditional draft pick from the Atlanta Thrashers for a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a third-round draft pick in 2010.

What does it give the Montreal Canadiens
The Habs need a shake-up after losing 10 of their past 13 games, so maybe Schneider is it. The veteran rearguard should be able to shore things up a bit in Montreal's own zone and help give rattled young goaltender Carey Price a confidence boost. Meanwhile, Schneider is an above-average offensive defenseman who can help take some pressure off team-leading scorer Andrei Markov, who is also struggling of late. The Habs also get a conditional pick (between rounds 3-5), depending on how far they go in this year's playoffs.

What does it give the Atlanta Thrashers
With young blueliners Zach Bogosian and Boris Valabik looking ready for more ice time lately, the timing was right for the non-contending Thrashers to dump some salary, stockpile some picks and start looking even more towards the future. The Thrashers made a nice move here in getting two very good draft selections in return for a player who clearly wasn't in their long-term plans.

Fantasy impact