The Val-d’Or Foreurs have announced that they have traded Matvei Gridin to the Shawinigan Cataractes, in exchange for import defenseman Eduard Bondar and a third round pick in 2026.
Gridin, Calgary’s first round pick in 2024, is coming off of an 83 point season (38+45) with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He will look to help Shawinigan on its pursuit of a QMJHL championship.
Meanwhile, 17-year old defenseman Eduard Bondar is joining the QMJHL and now the Val-d’Or Foreurs after a 44 game season in the Russian junior league, the MHL. There he registered four points (1+3) with Yunior Krasnogorsk. The 6-foot-3 Bondar should have plenty of opportunity with the Foreurs as he fields interest from NHL teams for the draft in June.
Gridin will join the Cataractes after his camp with the Calgary Flames is over, and should be an impact player.
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