In Benn, the Habs add a big-bodied defenseman who can line up on either side of the ice. He will probably be used in penalty-killing situations and provide valuable depth on the third pairing. The 29-year-old Benn is signed through 2018-19 with a cap hit of $1.1 million.

The Stars get a younger defender in the 26-year-old Pateryn, plus an extra fourth-round pick in this year's draft. Benn is the older brother of Stars captain Jamie Benn, so this deal probably affects Dallas more in the dressing room than on the ice.

Benn's role with Montreal should be strictly defense-oriented, so whatever little fantasy value he owned in Dallas is now gone. Ditto Pateryn, who is more of a stay-at-home type than an offensive threat from the blueline.