The middle of the Montreal Canadiens is getting a little more organizational depth.
The Habs inked forward Brandon Gignac to a two-year, two-way contract that will run until the end of the 2024–25 season as their first move after the All-Star break.
The contract’s cap hit has not yet been disclosed.
Gignac signed his first NHL contract three years ago while he was a member of the New Jersey Devils organization. He has been with Laval Rocket, Montreal’s main affiliate, for the past three seasons as part of an American Hockey League contract.
Gignac’s career has made quite the comeback. The New Jersey Devils selected the Repentigny, Quebec native in the third round of the 2016 draft. Unfortunately, he never became a regular NHL player and spent the majority of his time with the Devils’ AHL teams in Binghamton and Albany. He did, however, play in one game with New Jersey during the 2018–19 season.
He played most of his season in the ECHL with the Jacksonville IceMen in 2020–21, his final season in the New Jersey system. Gignac’s confidence and output increased the season after he returned to his native province. He is playing the greatest hockey of his professional career thus far and has assisted the Rocket in making the playoffs the past two seasons. Gignac, who now shares fifth place in the AHL scoring standings with 38 points after 41 games with Laval this season, has 13 goals and 25 assists. He exceeded the 36-point season record he set in 2018–19 with Binghamton.
The Canadiens now have 45 players under NHL contracts as a result of the signing. There are presently two spaces available on the main roster coming out of the break; it is unknown if or when they will attempt to add Gignac.
The Canadiens (20-21-8) will play the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night to resume play. They are even with the Buffalo Sabres for sixth place in the Atlantic Division, 11 points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in third place, and 10 behind the Detroit Red Wings for the last Eastern Conference Wild Card slot.
Laval (19-18-6) is currently taking a break for All-Stars. One point separates Le Rocket and Belleville Senators for the last playoff position in the North Division. Le Rocket is currently ranked sixth in the division.
