MONTREAL - A bit over 24 hours after being traded to the Canadiens, Tomas Tatar was both surprised and excited by the move that brought him to the hockey hotbed.

"It took me five minutes to realize what happened, but then, the excitement took over. I'm really happy to be joining the Canadiens," explained the former Detroit Red Wings and Vegas Golden Knights forward. "I want to help the team as much as I can and have an impact."

Tweet from @CanadiensMTL: Tomas Tatar �� propos de la transaction qui l'envoie �� Montr��al.Tomas Tatar on being traded to Montreal.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ZoEkld8rtm

Even though he may be coming off his fourth straight 20-goal season, the Habs' new No. 90 admits that adjusting to a new team was a challenge after he was swapped at the trade deadline last season. "My first trade wasn't easy. It's hard to arrive on a team where all the players are playing with a lot of confidence and try and find your place. But it was still a great experience with the playoff run we had."

Despite only netting four goals in his last 20 games of the season, the Canadiens' newcomer remains confident he can rebound and prove his naysayers wrong.

"I want to prove I can be on the top lines, and be productive, and show that I can score maybe 30 goals. I think I can prove to the people in Montreal that they can be happy I was traded here," explained Tatar. "I really want to help my teammates and the team reach its goals."

Video: Tomas Tatar and Nick Suzuki on being traded to MTL

The 27-year-old Slovak has enjoyed lots of success in the NHL, much of it in a Detroit Red Wings uniform, where he recorded 228 points in 427 games.

Tatar will get his first taste of the Montreal market on Thursday, when he reports for physicals at the start of Canadiens training camp at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.