Chicago Blackhawks trade Nicolas Beaudin for Cameron Hillis

© Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nicolas Beaudin (74) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring in the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Feb. 13, 2021, at the United Center.

The Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday traded defenseman Nicolas Beaudin to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Cameron Hillis.

Hillis, who’s 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, split last season between Montreal, the AHL Laval Rocket and East Coast Hockey League Trois-Rivières Lions, where he had two goals in three games this season.

Last season the 22-year-old Oshawa, Ontario, native had five goals and four assists in 24 games for Laval, and three goals and six assists in 14 games for Trois-Rivières.

He was a 2018 third-round pick for Montreal.

Beaudin was the Hawks’ first-round pick in the same draft, selected 27th overall, in what had once been a promising trajectory but had stalled since last season.

Beaudin had two goals and four assists in 19 games in 2020-21, but appeared in just two games last season and didn’t register a point, averaging just 6 minutes of ice time.

Hillis will report to the Rockford IceHogs.

Beaudin also didn’t stand out in camp as other young blue liners such as Alex Vlasic, Filip Roos and Alec Regula surpassed him in the hierarchy.

Beaudin had an assist in three games for Rockford.

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