The Montreal Canadiens have announced that they’ve signed Brandon Gignac to a two-year, two-way contract beginning this season, upgrading him from the minor-league deal he inked in July of 2022. It is Gignac’s first NHL deal since his entry-level contract expired at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Turning 26 in November, Gignac has played a big role for the Laval Rocket over the past three years, originally joining the AHL team in the 2021 off-season. He posted 26 points in his first year with Laval, 33 last year, and is currently sitting on 42 points in 43 games as the Rocket’s leading scorer, 10 points up on rookie Joshua Roy in second place.
One of the top stories for the NHL team in recent weeks has been the lack of available centre depth — and that was before the Canadiens traded away Sean Monahan on Friday, leaving the club with just two healthy centres. Gignac signing a NHL contract means he is automatically on the NHL roster.
He has just one game of NHL experience, playing 9:04 on March 19, 2019 for the New Jersey Devils. With Montreal currently down a few forwards and more trades likely to see more players depart before the March 8 trade deadline, he might get a shot at several more games in the top league before this season is done.
The team also recalled Lucas Condotta. Both players will join the team after the NHL All-Star break and the team’s bye week.
