Former Stars defenceman Doug Janik, right, has registered 16 points and 121 penalty minutes in six NHL seasons with Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Dallas. Former Stars defenceman Doug Janik, right, has registered 16 points and 121 penalty minutes in six NHL seasons with Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Dallas. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

Ten days after acquiring Mathieu Schneider, the Montreal Canadiens further bolstered their defence by picking up Doug Janik from the Dallas Stars for forward Steve Begin on Thursday.

Janik, 28, brings 159 games of NHL experience to the Canadiens' blue-line. He posted one assist in 13 games with Dallas this season.

Veteran left-winger Steve Begin is the newest Star after collecting 10 points in 42 games with Montreal this season.

"Throughout his five seasons in the Montreal Canadiens jersey, Steve Begin has been a proud competitor who dedicated himself to the team," Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said in a statement. "As an organization, we are grateful to Steve for his play on the ice as well as his involvement in the Quebec community."

The 30-year-old Begin, claimed by the Canadiens off waivers from Buffalo in October 2003, also played with the Calgary Flames from 1997 to 2003.

A healthy scratch in the last five games, he had expressed a wish to be dealt to another team if the Canadiens were not going to use him.

"Steve is a gritty, honest player with a very strong work ethic," Stars general manager Les Jackson said in a statement. "He's good on the penalty kill and he is a competitor in every sense of the word."

Janik, a second-round draft pick by Buffalo in 1999, has registered 16 points and 121 penalty minutes in six NHL seasons with Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Dallas.

He will join the Canadiens' American Hockey League affiliate in Hamilton, if he clears waivers by Saturday at noon ET.

In the Schneider deal, Montreal also received a 2009 conditional draft choice from Atlanta in exchange for a second-round pick in this summer's draft and a third-round pick in 2010.

Montreal entered Thursday's action fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 32-22-7 record for 71 points, four behind fourth-place Philadlephia, which hosts the Canadiens on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.