The Canadiens have moved quickly to take care of another piece of their roster, locking up Zachary Bolduc on a four-year deal worth $4.2 million, according to Elliotte Friedman.
It comes just one day after Montreal made the surprising free-agent signing of Chris Kreider, and it gives Kent Hughes another summer win after a stretch that had looked pretty quiet not long ago.
Bolduc arrived in Montreal last offseason in the trade that sent Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues, and the Canadiens were hoping he’d keep building after a promising season. Instead, he finished with 30 points, which was six fewer than the year before.
The playoffs were a different story. Bolduc turned into one of Montreal’s more physical forwards, finishing second on the team with 47 hits while also adding seven points in 19 playoff games. That run clearly helped his case, and it made his unsigned status all the more notable as speculation swirled that he could be part of a trade package to help the Canadiens land a star.
That won’t happen now. Bolduc is staying put and becomes the third Canadiens player to get an extension this summer, alongside Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes.
The Kreider addition does change the picture a bit, though. Bolduc’s role is not expected to grow this season, and he should remain an important part of Montreal’s bottom six.
There’s still another decision hanging over Hughes’ desk, too. Arber Xhekaj remains a restricted free agent, and his situation is less straightforward. He does not have an obvious path to a regular spot on the blue line, and if he’s not comfortable signing without that opportunity, a trade may be more likely than a new contract with Montreal.
For now, though, the Canadiens have added another layer to what has suddenly become a much busier summer.
In Other News...
Kent Hughes Just Won Big In The Chris Kreider Sweepstakes
Chris Kreiders path to Montreal opened up because Anaheim was not willing to pay the price some teams were seeking to absorb his contract. Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast that interest in taking on the deal came with a hefty ask, with clubs seeking first- or second-round draft compensation from the Ducks before they would step in.
Pat Verbeek would not attach that kind of asset to move the money, and the Ducks instead terminated the deal. That left Kent Hughes and the Canadiens in position to sign Kreider as a free agent without surrendering anything in return, a tidy bit of business for Montreal in a market where cap space and draft capital usually come at a premium. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Kreider Changes Everything About How The Canadiens Are Viewed
Chris Kreiders arrival gives Montreal a different kind of weight entering the season, not just because he brings playoff mileage, but because he clearly views this group through contenders eyes. After leaving the Anaheim Ducks, he landed with the Canadiens on a one-year contract and instantly changed the way the organization is being discussed around the league, with his experience and track record adding a layer of credibility to a team trying to reestablish itself among the Easts better clubs.
The surprise is as important as the signing itself. Kreider had been tied more often to Boston and Philadelphia, so Montreal was not the destination many expected, especially for a player with his background and the kind of market interest he generated. Instead, the Canadiens got the player who believes they can chase a Stanley Cup, and that alone says something about how far this roster has come and how it may be viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Former Canadiens Pick Had An Alarming Moment Overseas
Alex Galchenyuks start with Spartak Moscow has already drawn attention back home, and not just because the former Canadiens forward is producing right away in the KHL. In his second game with the club, he picked up another assist and continued to settle into a new role overseas, giving Montreal fans a reminder that there is still some skill there even after a winding career path.
The unsettling part came during Spartaks win over SKA St. Petersburg, when Galchenyuk left the game with a visible eye injury after taking a slap shot in the face area. He stayed upbeat afterward, but the moment was a jarring one for a player who was later recognized by the club following the victory, and it adds a fresh layer of concern to an otherwise encouraging beginning in Moscow. [Read more 🡒]