The Canadiens added some insurance on defence Monday when they signed restricted free agent Xavier Ouellet to a one-year, two-way contract.
It’s a good deal for both parties. The Canadiens retain a veteran defenceman who can play a top-four role with the Laval Rocket and fill in at the NHL level, while Ouellet will earn $700,000 at the NHL level and $300,000 in the AHL, with $400,000 in guaranteed salary.
Ouellet recorded three assists in 19 games with the Canadiens last season, and had seven goals and 21 assists in 47 games for the Rocket. He was named captain of the AHL team in February following the departure of Byron Froese.
Ouellet, who was born in France while his father, Robert, was playing there, signed a one-year, two-way contract with Montreal last July. A second-round pick (48th overall) by the Detroit Red Wings in 2011, he has five goals and 26 points in 160 career NHL games with the Red Wings and Canadiens.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
