The Montreal Canadiens have announced that defenceman Joel Edmundson has been signed to a four-year contract worth a total of $14 million. The annual cap hit comes out to $3.5 million per year.
It’s official.
Welcome to Montreal, @JEdmundson3!#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/X11jYCYGhI
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 16, 2020
Edmundson, whose negotiation rights were acquired on September 12 from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick, posted seven goals and 13 assists in 68 games with the Hurricanes in the abbreviated 2019-20 regular season. He notched one goal in four games upon the resumption of the season before being knocked out of the lineup by an undisclosed injury. Edmundson’s contract contains a 10-team no-trade clause, but he will not have to be protected in the upcoming expansion draft for the Seattle Kraken.
Joel Edmundson’s new #habs contract includes a 10-team no-trade clause.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) September 16, 2020
Edmundson’s deal is remarkably similar to that signed by Ben Chiarot a year prior, and Marc Bergevin will undoubtably be hoping for his newest acquisition to exceed expectations much like the former Winnipeg Jet did. The nature of the contract also invites additional questions regarding the futures of Brett Kulak—still under contract for two more years—and restricted free agent Victor Mete.
With this signing, the Canadiens have roughly $9.5 million dollars in cap space remaining.
Related
The Canadiens’ salary-cap situation after the Jake Allen trade
UPDATE: How the contract’s salary breaks down over the four-year term.
Joel Edmundson contract breakdown:
2020-21, $2.75M salary
2021-22, $2.5M salary plus $1M signing bonus
2022-23, $2.75M salary plus $2M SB
2023-24, $1M salary plus $2M SB
Total: $9M salary, $5M SB— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 17, 2020
