BREAKING: Montreal Canadiens sign forward on two-year, two-way contract after F Monahan exit
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The Montreal Canadiens are strengthening their center depth within the organization.
After the All-Star break, the Habs took action by signing forward Brandon Gignac to a two-year, two-way deal that will run until the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
The financial details of the contract have not been revealed yet.
This marks Gignac’s return to the NHL accompanied by his first contract since being a part of the New Jersey Devils organization three years ago. For the past three seasons, he has been playing under an American Hockey League contract with the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s main affiliate team.
Gignac has experienced a remarkable reversal in his career trajectory. The Repentigny, Quebec, resident was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round of the 2016 draft. Regrettably, despite making a single appearance with New Jersey in the 2018-19 season, he did not progress into being a regular NHL player, primarily featuring with the Devils’ AHL affiliates in Binghamton and Albany.
In the 2020-21 season, his final year in the New Jersey organization, he predominantly played for the Jacksonville IceMen in the ECHL. Upon returning to his home province in the subsequent season, Gignac’s confidence and performance improved significantly. He has been instrumental in leading the Rocket to consecutive playoff appearances over the past two seasons, showcasing the peak of his professional hockey career. In 41 games with Laval this season, Gignac has notched 13 goals and 25 assists, placing him tied for fifth in AHL scoring with 38 points. This surpasses his previous 36-point season achieved with Binghamton in 2018-19.
Following the signing, the Canadiens now have 45 players signed to NHL contracts. It remains uncertain whether and when they might consider promoting Gignac to the NHL roster, as there are currently two available spots following the break.
The Canadiens (20-21-8) are set to resume play on Tuesday evening as they head to face the Washington Capitals. They currently share the sixth spot in the Atlantic Division with the Buffalo Sabres, trailing the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning by 11 points and the Detroit Red Wings, who occupy the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference, by 10 points.
Laval (19-18-6) is currently on their All-Star break. The team holds the sixth position in the North Division and sits just one point behind the Belleville Senators, who currently occupy the final playoff position in the division.
