Canadiens claim Clague off waivers from Kings

The Montreal Canadiens claimed defenseman Kale Clague off the wire from the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Clague collected five points - all assists - while averaging 17:50 of ice time through 11 games with the Kings in 2021-22. The 23-year-old also registered four assists over five contests for Los Angeles' AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, this season.

The Kings drafted Clague 51st overall in 2016.

Saturday's transaction is Jeff Gorton's first as Montreal's executive vice president of hockey operations after team owner Geoff Molson hired him on Sunday.

The Canadiens are significantly depleted on the back end due to injuries. Shea Weber and Joel Edmundson have yet to play in this campaign, and Jeff Petry will miss Saturday's game against the Nashville Predators.