As was expected, the Montreal Canadiens announced that they signed NCAA defenceman Mac Bennett to a 2 year entry level deal.
Bennett was a third round pick in 2009, and recently finished his college hockey career with the University of Michigan as the captain.
PRESS RELEASE
MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced Wednesday the signing of defenseman Mac Bennett to a two-year, entry level contract (2014-15 and 2015-16).
In 31 games with the NCAA Big Ten’s University of Michigan in 2013-14, Bennett recorded 14 points (2 goals, 12 assists). He led his team’s defensemen in assists and points. The Wolverines captain served 10 penalty minutes, displayed a +12 differential and was named to the All-Big Ten second team.
Bennett, 23, accumulated 65 points (14 goals, 51 assists) in 136 games since making his college debut with the Wolverines in 2010-11. The 6’00’’ and 195 lbs defenseman totaled 53 penalty minutes. A product of the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, he was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team in 2009-10.
A native of Narragansett, Rhode Island, Bennett was selected in the third round, 79th overall by the Canadiens at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Bennett is considered a mobile d-man with a good first pass. He faced top competition every night Michigan took the ice, and should be considered as a solid all-around defender with a decently polished skill set.
