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Montreal Canadiens Sign Lucas Condotta

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The Montreal Canadiens have signed college free agent Lucas Condotta to a one-year, entry-level contract. The deal begins in 2022-23 and will carry an NHL cap hit of $830K. Condotta will join the Laval Rocket on a professional tryout agreement for the rest of the season.

Undrafted, the 24-year-old forward has spent the last four seasons at UMass-Lowell, only really becoming a consistent offensive presence this year. As a senior, he scored ten goals and 23 points in 33 games, play that reminded of his days in the OJHL where he was an offensive star.

He also served as captain this season for the River Hawks, and trailed only Andre Lee–recently signed to an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings–and Carl Berglund in team scoring.

While this obviously isn’t a turning point for the organization, it is the first time that new manager Kent Hughes has dipped into the college free agent waters. Whether that becomes a trend for the Canadiens remains to be seen, but with his and Jeff Gorton’s background, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising.

Montreal Canadiens Sign Joshua Roy

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The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with Joshua Roy on a three-year, entry-level contract, that will begin in 2022-23. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $857K and as CapFriendly notes, does not include any bonuses for the third year. Roy, 18, currently plays for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL.

Selected 150th overall in 2021, Roy looked like nothing more than a lottery ticket at last year’s draft. After scoring 36 goals and 92 points in 50 games with Sherbrooke this season, it looks like the Canadiens will be able to cash this one in. Of course, this isn’t the first time that Roy has been considered a top prospect. The young forward was the first overall pick in the 2019 QMJHL draft, after dominating Quebec minor hockey with a shot that looked like it could score goals at the pro level.

After requesting a trade away from the Saint John Seadogs, and finding a new home with the Phoenix, he finally got serious about his conditioning and has become the outstanding offensive player that people saw as a youngster. For the Canadiens, he represents a late-round steal, if he can continue on his current development path, and become the player who was once expected to go in the first round.

Whether that actually happens still remains to be seen, though this entry-level contract is a nice step along the way. The deal can still slide forward one year should he fail to make the NHL team next season (which does still seem unlikely), meaning they’ll have quite some time to help him reach his potential.

Canadiens Notes: Drouin, Pezzetta, Tyler Pitlick, Price, Ylonen

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The Montreal Canadiens announced that forward Jonathan Drouin will remain out of the lineup after re-aggravating his injury Monday night against the Boston Bruins. The Canadiens say that it is possible Drouin will need surgery, however he is first going to seek a second opinion. Complicating the matter, however, is that Drouin is currently isolating after being in close-contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Therefore, Drouin will wait until he is out of isolation to seek that second opinion, further delaying the potential recovery for the injury.

Drouin has had a solid season when he’s in the lineup, putting up 20 points in 34 games for Montreal, but has struggled with injuries, missing 30 games. This IR stint will be Drouin’s third of the season and could potentially spell the end of his 2021-22 campaign. The forward has one more year at $5.5MM on his contract before hitting unrestricted free agency after the 2022-23 season.

  • TSN’s John Lu reports that forwards Michael Pezzetta and Tyler Pitlick will not travel with the team to New Jersey tonight ahead of tomorrow’s game against the New Jersey Devils. The two were injured in tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and did not return to the game.
  • Lu also notes that Carey Price may join the team on the road soon, however that will depend on his recovery from a non-COVID illness that recently flared up (link). Although the illness is certainly not a positive, Price’s possible return to travel for the team is encouraging, as his future had at times been questioned with his lower-body injury.
  • In the wake of the above injuries, the Canadiens announced they have recalled forward Jesse Ylonen on an emergency basis. Ylonen, Montreal’s second-round pick in 2018, has played just eight NHL games in his career, seven of which have come this season. In those seven games, Ylonen has one goal and one assist. In 45 games with the Laval Rocket of the AHL, Ylonen has 12 goals and 18 assists.

Canadiens 'Assistant Coach Luke Richardson Placed In COVID Protocol

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  • The Montreal Canadiens announced that Assistant Coach Luke Richardson was placed in COVID protocol and will miss tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Richardson, who turned 53 today, is in his fourth season behind the bench for Montreal, but is likely to miss at least a few games as he is in protocol.

Jeff Petry Out Indefinitely

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  • The Canadiens announced that defenseman Jeff Petry is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. The 34-year-old has had a tough season both in terms of his production (16 points in 57 games) and defensive play while the team wasn’t able to find a suitable trade for him at the deadline to honor his request to be moved.  William Lagesson will make his Montreal debut against Toronto tonight in Petry’s absence.

Jonathan Drouin Placed On IR With Upper-Body Injury

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  • On top of being in COVID protocol for a close contact, the Canadiens announced that winger Jonathan Drouin has been placed on IR with an upper-body injury and is out indefinitely. The 26-year-old had just returned to the lineup after missing 22 games with a wrist issue and it’s unclear if this injury is related to that one or something different altogether.

Montreal Canadiens Expected To Sign Jordan Harris

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After a hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful game against Western Michigan today, Jordan Harris and the rest of Northeastern’s season is over. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Harris is now expected to sign with the Montreal Canadiens, a two-year entry-level contract that will start this season, allowing him to enter the lineup down the stretch.

Harris, 21, was picked by the Canadiens in 2018, 71st overall, and could potentially become an unrestricted free agent should he fail to sign with them by August 15. That seemed unlikely even before Kent Hughes became general manager, but especially now given his long history with the young defenseman. Riley Hughes, Kent’s son, has played with Harris for many years, including for the last three at Northeastern, where they were also joined this season by his other son Jack Hughes, a top prospect for the 2022 draft.

There was actually a lot of chatter about Harris last year, but he eventually decided to return for his senior season, where he was once again outstanding. The slightly undersized defenseman had five goals and 20 points in 38 games and served as captain of the Huskies. He was named Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman and to the conference First All-Star Team. A Hobey Baker nominee once again, he should step almost directly into the Montreal lineup, if even for a handful of games after the contract is over.

He’s not the only top prospect on Northeastern who could sign soon. Devon Levi also put the finishing touches on one of the greatest goaltending seasons in NCAA history, and will now have to choose whether or not to turn pro and join the Buffalo Sabres organization. Levi, 20, had a .952 save percentage in 31 appearances, tying Connor Hellebuyck for the second-best number since 2000 at the college level (Jimmy Howard’s .956 for the University of Maine is first).

Others, like Vancouver Canucks prospect Aidan Mcdonough and Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Colangelo will also have to make a decision on whether or not to turn pro.

Brendan Gallagher Out A Week

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  • More bad news for the Montreal Canadiens, as Brendan Gallagher is out for a week with a lower-body injury. Like most Montreal players, this season has been a dreadful one for the 29-year-old Gallagher, who has just five goals and 14 points in 43 games. Those are both easily career-lows, and numbers that certainly aren’t good enough for a player carrying a $6.5MM cap hit. Gallagher is signed through 2026-27 and will hopefully bounce back in 2022-23.

Snapshots: Drouin, Laughton, Lindenwood

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The Montreal Canadiens won’t have forward Jonathan Drouin in the lineup tonight, as he’s returned home due to a close COVID-19 contact, the team announced. Drouin’s battled through injury this year, missing around two months with a wrist injury, but has been fairly productive with 20 points in 34 games when in the lineup. It’s another tough break for Drouin, who’s put up points over the past few seasons but can’t stay in the lineup. Waiver claim Rem Pitlick could get an elevated role in the Montreal lineup while Drouin is out.

More from around hockey on this Thursday night:

  • Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton “didn’t get great news” during his latest doctors’ appointment, said head coach Mike Yeo today. The forward has been out with a concussion for roughly two weeks, and it’s looking increasingly likely that he won’t return this season. The team has shut him down for the time being as he focuses on his recovery. If it is the end of the year for him, he finished 2021-22 with 28 points in 54 games.
  • Division I college hockey is officially coming to the St. Louis area. Lindenwood University officially unveiled its program today, after more than a year of rumors surrounding the school. In its first season, the school will be coached by former St. Louis Blue Rick Zombo.

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