MONTREAL (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens have made the first major move on the morning of the NHL’s trade deadline day by acquiring Jeff Petry from the Edmonton Oilers for draft picks.

The defenseman was considered one of the most likely players to be dealt before Monday’s 3 p.m. EST deadline. Petry can become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

In exchange for the 27-year-old player, Montreal sent a 2015 second-round draft choice and a conditional fifth-round pick to Edmonton.

Petry had been the subject of trade talk for several weeks. He said in an interview in Toronto last month that he’s playing for a ”contract moving forward” and wants to show he’s a ”guy that’s going to bring intensity and bring my game day in and day out.”