HABS SIGN PICARD TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Today in Montreal, the Canadiens Gm Pierre Gauthier announced that he had signed Alexandre Picard to a one-year contract. In the 2009-2010 season, Picard had 4 goals and 11 assist with the Senators and Hurricanes. The 25 year old is expected to play for the Canadiens farm team (The Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL) next season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

CANADIENS SIGN LOUIS LEBLANC TO A 3 YEAR CONTRACT

Last night in Montreal, Habs GM Pierre Gauthier announced that he had signed forward Louis Leblanc to a three-year contract. The terms of this deal were not announced.Leblanc was drafted by Montreal in round 1, 18th overall of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. With Leblanc being signed, Leblanc can play in the AHL next season but he signed with the Montreal Juniors of the QMJ Hockey League and is expected to play there next season depending on what he wants to do and what happens in training camp. But don't worry Habs fans, he's expected to play for Montreal within the next 2 seasons.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

CANADIENS SIGN ALEX HENRY TO A 2 YEAR CONTRACT

Today in Montreal, the Canadiens announced that they had signed Alex Henry to a 2 year contract. Henry played 68 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, he had 13 assists as the captain.He is expected to play with the Habs next season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Lightning sign Moore to a 2 year contract

Today in Tampa Bay, the lightning signed center Dominic Moore to a two-year contract. The terms of this deal were not announced."Dominic's skating ability, strength on face-offs and versatility will be a great addition to our line-up," said vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman. "We're pleased to welcome him to the organization." Moore played 69 games last season with the Panthers and Canadiens and he had 10 goals and 18 assist.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

CANADIENS SIGN DESJARDINS TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Today in Montreal, Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier announced that he had signed Cedrick Desjardins to a one-year, two-way contract. The terms of this deal were not announced. Desjardins lead the AHL with a 2.00 goals-against average in just 47 games. In those 47 games he had a record of 29-9-4 with 6 shutouts (second in AHL). If the Canadiens Gm doesn't sign Price I think Desjardins will for sure make the Canadiens next season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HABS SIGN RYAN RUSSELL TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Today in Montreal, Canadiens Gm Pierre Gauthier announced that he had signed forward Ryan Russell to a 1 year 2 way contract. Russell (23 years old) played in 74 games with the Bulldogs (AHL) last season and had 19 goals, 18 assists for a total of 37 points. He is expected to play in the AHL next season with Hamilton.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HABS SIGN LAPIERRE TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Today in Montreal, Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier signed Maxim Lapierre to a 1 year $900,000 contract. Lapierre played 76 games with the Habs last season and had 7 goals and 7 assist for a total of 14 points. It wasn't his best season but he has 1 more chance and he's ready for it.“Let’s be honest, this wasn’t my best year,” admitted Lapierre. “We were looking at a longer term deal, but it just wasn’t the time to get greedy. I’m focused on getting ready for next season, bouncing back and then we’ll do this all over again next year.” Carey Price is the only Restricted Free agent that has not been signed. But don't worry he will be signed by the deadline.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo
Quotes from:Canadiens.NHL.com

HABS SIGN CARLE AND WYMAN TO 1 YEAR CONTRACTS

Yesterday in Montreal, Habs GM Pierre Gauthier announced that he had signed defenceman Mathieu Carle and forward James T. Wyman to one-year contracts. Carle will get paid $660,000 for next season and the terms of Wyman's deal was not announced. You can expect these young players to be with the Habs next season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HABS FREE AGENTS

With the Habs going to the conference final last season and the signings that they have done this summer, the Habs GM Pierre Gauthier is expected to not try to sign anyone other than Carey Price."We'll see how it evolves (with Price)," he said. "Sometimes it takes longer than other cases, but we'll come to a conclusion some time before training camp, I'm confident of that."

The Gm already made it clear that he's not going to do much more when he announced last week that he will not sign Moore or Metroploit."It's unfortunate because a lot of these guys contributed to our team, but between the young players moving up and the acquisitions we made in the off-season, and of course the game that we all play with the (salary) cap, we came to those decisions," he said."The Habs are expected to sign Price before the deadline.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo
Quotes from:

TSN.ca

Montreal Canadiens FREE AGENTS

Available UFAs: F Mike Glumac, F Georges Laraque, F Glen Metropolit, F Dominic Moore, D Shawn Belle, D Andre Benoit, D Marc-Andre Bergeron, D Alex Henry, D Paul Mara

Available RFAs: F Mikael Johansson, F Brock Trotter, F Maxim Lapierre, F J.T. Wyman, F David Desharnais, F Ryan Russell, F Gregory Stewart, D Michael Busto, D Mathieu Carle, G Cedric Desjardins, G Carey Price

HABS SIGN ALEX AULD TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Yesterday in Montreal the Canadiens signed 2 goalies first it was Curtis Sanford and now it's Alex Auld. Auld was signed to a 1 year $1 million dollar contract.Auld is expected to back up Price next season."Their offer came along right away and the situation was an ideal one for me," said Alex Auld. "I'm really happy to be playing Canada again and to work with a young goalie like Carey. My wife and I jumped on this opportunity." Auld played 24 games last season with the Stars and had a record of 9-7-3 with no Shutouts. But now it's time for the big question. With stats like these Montreal fans will expect a lot more from him and if he cracks down under the pressure he will not be in Montreal for very long.

But Sanford said that he can deal with the pressure and it won't be an issue."The pressure is always there on any goalie in Montreal regardless of what the team accomplished this season," said Auld. "There have been such legendary goalies who have guarded this crease over the years that there are almost no goalie numbers to wear here! It really is a unique position in the world of sports." But enough talk and lets just let him play and he'll do fine next season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

CANADIENS SIGN RE-SIGN SANFORD TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier Re-signed Curtis Sanford to a 1 year Contact. The terms of this deal were not disclosed to the media. Curtis Sanford spent last season in the AHL with the Bulldogs and he had a record of 23-11-3 including 4 shutouts. He was also apart the the Bulldogs great run to the conference finals and he had a record of 5-4 with 2 shutouts. Sanford will have to fight for the number 2 spot on the Habs as the Canadiens have also signed Alex Alud. But Sanford is the future and he is expected to once again be back in Hamilton next season.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

HABS SIGN BOYD TO A 1 YEAR CONTRACT

Yesterday, the Canadiens announced that they had signed Dustin Boyd to a 1 year $650,000 contract. Boyd was acquired by Montreal in a trade that involved Kostitsyn being sent to Nashville.Montreal even acquired Dan Ellis in the trade but he decided to sign with Tampa instead of Montreal. He played 78 games with the Predators last season and he had 11 goals and 13 assist for a total of 24 points. He will be a big help to the Habs 3rd line.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo