Canadiens Sign D Marc-Andre Bergeron to 1 Year Deal
With the injuries to defensemen Andrei Markov and Ryan O'Byrne earlier this week, and although they have called up Yannick weber to bolster the blue line, it was no surprise that the Canadiens sought to look for an experienced D-man to help not only on defence, but also on the power-play.
Bergeron, an NHL journeyman, having seen time in Edmonton, Long Island, Anaheim and Minnesota, makes Montreal his fifth stop in his 8 seasons as an NHLer.
His 14 goals (seven on the power-play) and 18 assists last season make him an attractive catch, however his +5 rating can be sometimes questionned as his offensive instincts sometimes cause costly turnovers for his team.
Overall, in my opinion, at $750,000 (rumoured) for one season, it is a good acquisition while the Canadiens' blueline starters are on the mend.
Please read on for the Canadiens' official press release.
MONTREAL (October 6, 2009) – Montreal Canadiens General manager Bob Gainey announced today that the Club agreed to a one-year contract (2009-10) with defenseman Marc-André Bergeron. As per Club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
A native of Trois-Rivières, Québec, Bergeron played in 72 of the Minnesota Wild 82 regular-season games in 2008-09 recording 32 points (14 goals including seven on the power-play, and 18 assists), served 30 penalty minutes and had a +5 plus/minus rating with 16:58 average ice time per game. Half of his goal production came on the power play and he also tallied three game-winning goals.
The 5’9’’ and 198 lbs defenseman is entering his 8th NHL season having played 339 NHL games with Edmonton, NY Islanders, Anaheim and Minnesota. Bergeron recorded 160 points (62 goals, 98 assists), 161 penalty minutes and a +3 plus/minus rating with 36 tallies on the power play.
In 2005-06 he reached the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers losing to the Carolina Hurricanes. In 24 NHL career playoff games he registered six points (3 goals, 3 assists).
A former star defenseman with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Shawinigan Cataractes (recording 101 points in 69 games in 2000-01), Bergeron recorded 230 points and served 529 penalty minutes in 249 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League regular season games.
He was voted to the QMJHL and the Canadian Hockey League First All-Star Teams in 2001and selected Top Defenseman in the CHL in the same year. In just his second year with the American Hockey League Hamilton Bulldogs in 2003, he was voted to the league’s Second All-Star Team.
Marc-André Bergeron will report to the Hamilton Bulldogs tomorrow for conditioning purposes.
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