Canadiens officially sign Zachary Bolduc to a mid-term extension
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Montreal Canadiens have ended their offseason standoff with Zach Bolduc, signing the restricted free agent forward to a four-year contract carrying a $4.2 million average annual value, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
The deal is worth $16.8 million in total and arrives just days before the Canadiens open training camp on September 16.
Bolduc's contract situation had dragged on for much of the summer, with insiders floating figures anywhere from $3.5 million to $5 million per season depending on term length.
A four-year commitment ultimately split the difference, giving Montreal cost certainty on a young forward while allowing Bolduc to reach unrestricted free agency at just 27 years old.
Why This Deal Matters for Montreal
General manager Kent Hughes has now cleared one of his two remaining offseason priorities, with defenseman Arber Xhekaj still unsigned.
Bolduc, acquired from St. Louis last year, posted 30 points in 78 games during his first season with the Canadiens and added seven points in 19 playoff games as Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.
At $4.2 million, the cap hit lands between the conservative bridge-deal projections and the more aggressive comparisons drawn earlier this summer to players like Ville Koivunen and Mavrik Bourque.
It signals the Canadiens see Bolduc as a legitimate top-nine piece rather than a depth scorer.
What Comes Next
With Bolduc's future settled, all eyes turn to Xhekaj as the final domino before camp opens. Montreal still has cap flexibility to get a deal done in the coming days.
Ultimately, the Canadiens have made some big moves over the past 24 hours, and they are coming for that Atlantic Division crown.
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