SPORTS

Canadiens send Christian Thomas to Coyotes for Lucas Lessio

The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, December 15, 2015 6:14PM EST

Montreal Canadiens Christian Thomas leaps into the air during drills on the first day of training camp on September 17, 2015 in Brossard, Que. (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press)

Text:

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens traded Christian Thomas to the Phoenix Coyotes for Lucas Lessio in an exchange of minor-league forwards Tuesday.

Lessio, 22, had seven goals and 12 points in 24 games with the AHL Springfield Falcons this season. The six-foot-one 212-pound left-winger has three goals and two assists in 29 career NHL games.

The Maple, Ont. native was picked 56th overall by Phoenix in the 2011 draft.

Thomas, 23, the son of former NHL forward Steve Thomas, had two assists in five NHL games this season.

He was returned Sunday to the St. John's IceCaps of the AHL. The Toronto native was acquired by the Canadiens from the New York Rangers in return for Danny Kristo on July 2, 2013.