The Montreal Canadiens are adding some organizational depth down the middle.
In their first order of business following the All-Star break, the Habs signed forward Brandon Gignac to a two-year, two-way contract that will carry through the end of the 2024-25 season.
The cap hit of the contract is yet to be announced.
This is Gignac’s first NHL contract since he was in the New Jersey Devils system three years ago. He has spent the last three seasons under an American Hockey League contract with Montreal’s primary affiliate, Laval Rocket.
It has been quite the turnaround in the career of Gignac. The Repentigny, Quebec native was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the third round in 2016. Unfortunately, despite appearing in one game with New Jersey during the 2018-19 season, he never developed into an everyday NHLer, spending most of his time with the Devils’ AHL teams in Binghamton and Albany.
His final season in the New Jersey system in 2020-21 saw him spend the majority of the season in the ECHL with the Jacksonville IceMen. After returning to his home province the following season, Gignac’s confidence, and his production, rose. He has helped the Rocket make it to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, and is playing the best hockey of his pro career so far. In 41 games with Laval this year, Gignac has scored 13 goals and 25 assists, currently tied for fifth in AHL scoring with 38 points. He surpassed his 36-point campaign that he set with Binghamton in 2018-19.
With the signing, the Canadiens have 45 players under NHL contract. It is unknown if or when they will look to add Gignac to the main roster, which currently have two spots available coming out of the break.
The Canadiens (20-21-8) will return to action Tuesday night when they visit the Washington Capitals. They are tied for sixth in the Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres, 11 points back of the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning, and 10 behind the Detroit Red Wings for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Laval (19-18-6) is in the middle of their All-Star break. Le Rocket are sixth in the North Division, one point back of the Belleville Senators for the last playoff spot in the division.
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