Canadiens Sign Tomas Plekanec to Six-Year Deal

The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have signed forward Tomas Plekanec to a six-year contract extension worth $30 million. The deal averages out to $5 million per season. There is also a no-trade clause in the contract. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In all 82 games last season with the Canadiens, Plekanec had 25 goals and 45 assists for 70 points. He also added four goals and seven assists in 19 playoff games. In 393 career NHL games, all with the Canadiens, he has 103 goals and 151 assists for 254 points. This is not a bad signing for the Canadiens as long as Plekanec can remain a consistent scorer for the team. He is a good two-way forward with plenty of speed and playmaking skills and is good on the faceoff, but he has battled some inconsistency over the past few seasons. The Canadiens would have been better off signing him to a short-term contract for around $3 million per season in the event that Plekanec's numbers don't remain consistent.