For Montreal, Merrill should help replace the injured Ben Chiarot for the rest of 2020-21. Merrill can play either side, which helps. He is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this off-season, so this appears to be a short-term move by Montreal.

The Red Wings will get a fifth-round pick in this year's draft here, plus the contract of minor-league forward Verbeek (the nephew of Detroit assistant GM Pat Verbeek). Detroit figures to ship out a few more bodies before the trade deadline.

There is no fantasy impact here, as Merrill will serve a depth role in Montreal and Verbeek will likely continue to toil in the minor leagues for the Red Wings.