The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenceman Gustav Olofsson to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2020-21 season.
Canadiens agree to terms on a one-year, two-way contract with defenseman Gustav Olofsson.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/RHx6pGRXP3
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 25, 2020
The contract will pay him $750,000 in the NHL and $250,000 in the AHL, with a $350,000 guaranteed salary.
Olofsson came back from an injury-plagued 2018-19 season that saw him play two regular season games. He played 57 games for the Laval Rocket, scoring a goal and adding 15 assists and played three NHL games with the Canadiens.
The defenceman was acquired last season in a trade from the Minnesota Wild for Will Bitten. Olofsson had an up and down year as he had to adjust to playing hockey again after a long layoff. His NHL stint was not very successful, and it affected him when he returned to the AHL.
That wasn’t where Olofsson’s story ended. When Karl Alzner and Xavier Ouellet were recalled by the Canadens, Olofsson became Joël Bouchard’s trusted defender in his own zone and was tasked with playing with prospect Josh Brook. His game went to another level and earned him this extension.
He will remain depth for the organization, but like Alzner and Ouellet the chance is there for him to play himself into the NHL. If not, he will be a very important part of the Rocket blueline next season.
