Two days after acquiring Josh Anderson from the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Montreal Canadiens signed the power forward to a seven-year contract worth $38.5 million.
The deal keeps Anderson in Montreal through the 2026-27 season.
Montreal acquired Anderson in exchange for restricted free agent Max Domi. Anderson hasn’t played since December and had his 2019-20 season ended by surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
But in 2019-20 he had career highs with 27 goals and 20 assists. The Canadiens played a steep price for Anderson, but he adds an element of grittiness that the team needed.
The Canadiens have had a busy offseason. They traded for backup goalie Jake Allen, traded for and then gave an extension defenseman Joel Edmundson, extended defenseman Jeff Petry, bought out defenseman Karl Alzer.
This comes after they snuck into the playoffs and upset Pittsburgh in the qualifying round before losing to Philadelphia.