The Montreal Canadiens have traded the negotiating rights to pending free agent defenceman James Wisniewski to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a draft pick and future considerations, the NHL team said on Wednesday.
Wisniewski, 27, set career highs in goals (10), assists (41), points (51) and power-play goals (seven) last season while playing for the New York Islanders and Canadiens.
The Blue Jackets said the seventh-round selection in next year's draft that it sent to Montreal will become a fifth-round pick in 2012 if Columbus signs Wisniewski prior to the 2011-12 season.