The Montreal Canadiens have agreed on a new contract with winger Jesse Ylönen, re-upping him for one more season. It is the second NHL contract he’s signed with the organization since being a second-round selection in 2018.
The Canadiens agree to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with forward Jesse Ylönen.#GoHabsGo https://t.co/hQAlRaTuTk
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 31, 2023
The contract will be a two-way contract. While it won’t affect his waiver eligibility, it will lower his salary if he is assigned to the American Hockey League.
The contract will be $775,000 in the NHL and $200,000 with a guaranteed minimum of $275,000.
Jesse Ylonen 1 x $775 000 ($200 000 AHL, $275 000 guarantee) @CanadiensMTL
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 31, 2023
Ylönen is one of the most skilled prospects the Canadiens have in the system, though he’s yet to put everything together to reach his ceiling. There have been plenty of flashes of his offensive game at the AHL level and in lmited NHL minutes, and that’s a skill set Kent Hughes isn’t prepared to give up on.
With the wings being arguably the weakest position in the organization at the moment, Ylönen will have another opportunity to make the Canadiens roster out of training camp. In 2022-23 he had 16 points in 37 games, but the team will expect to see a lot more production from him over the length of this new contract.
Now with three seasons of professional experience under his belt, Ylönen is eligible for waivers, and that could ultimately be what earns him an NHL spot over other options.
