Young NHL defenseman's days with his team “might truly be numbered.”

The Montreal Canadiens announced a big acquisition on Monday, signing Kontinental Hockey League defenseman Jakub Jerabek to a National Hockey League contract, but the move may have big implications for another one of their defenseman.

Sportsnet insider Eric Engels believes the acquisition of 25-year-old Jerabek will effectively push 24-year-old defenseman Nathan Beaulieu out of Montreal, this despite Beaulieu coming off a career-best season. 

Much like the younger Beaulieu, Jerabek plays on the left side of the ice, and with that side of the Habs blue line already being crowded, Engels believes the solution for Montreal will be to trade Bealieu.

From Eric Engels:

As for Beaulieu, you have to think the Canadiens will work hard to trade him between now and the expansion draft, which is set for June 21.

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But surely Bergevin recognizes that Beaulieu still has some value on the trade market and that it would be more palatable to trade him rather than lose him for nothing to Vegas.

While Beaulieu saw his role on the blue line diminished as the season wore on, his 4 goals, 24 assists and 28 points were all career bests, and he also had a respectable plus minus rating of +8 on the season. It seems within the realm of possibility that Bergevin could find a team willing to trade for Beaulieu before the 21st.