Sharks might reacquire winger Travis Moen

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Travis Moen could be close to becoming a Sharks rental for the second time in four years.

San Jose is a front-runner in the trade market for the Canadiens' winger, according to a report Monday by the Toronto Sun. The Sharks acquired Moen in March 2009, along with defenseman Kent Huskins, from Anaheim for prospects Nick Bonino and Timo Pielmeier and a fourth-round pick in this year's draft.

Moen, 29, is sidelined with an upper-body injury. He has nine goals and 16 points in 46 games this season, playing 15:40 per game for Montreal, which is 14th in the East.

Moen's value is mainly as a defensive forward and penalty killer. The Canadiens have killed a league-best 89.7 percent of their penalties this season, and he's second among Canadiens forwards in minutes per game on the penalty kill. San Jose's penalty kill ranks 26th, at 78.6 percent.

Moen has a reputation as a postseason performer, earned in the 2007 playoffs, when he had 12 points for the Ducks in their championship run.

But after scoring three goals and five points in 19 regular-season games with the Sharks, Moen didn't score a point and was a minus-4 during the 2009 playoffs, in which top-seeded San Jose lost 4-2 in the first round to Anaheim. He signed a three-year, $4.5 million deal with Montreal after that.

The trade deadline is Feb. 27.

Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal (18) passes under pressure by Montreal Canadiens' Travis Moen (32) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Penguins' James Neal (18) passes under pressure by Montreal Canadiens' Travis Moen (32) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Photo: Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Sharks might reacquire winger Travis Moen 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Murray waived: The Sharks waived fourth-line winger Andrew Murray, 30, for the purpose of assigning him to Worcester of the AHL. He can be claimed by teams until 9 a.m. today.