Jul 14 Guillaume Latendresse Signs 1 Year Deal with Montreal Canadiens

Just a day after he stated that talks were going well and that he expected a contract to be signed withing the next few weeks, it was announced today that Guillaume Latendresse has agreed to terms with the Montreal Canadiens. 

The contract is said to be a one year $803,000 deal that may be a win-win for both sides.

Latendresse, who the fans hope will develop to be the next Canadiens power forward has not yet had a 20 goal season with the Habs, but with a new look, a new face and a fresh new start for the team, this may be the breakout year that both Latendresse, the Canadiens and the fans are looking for.

Also, in the same Canadiens Press release, they announced that they have also signed defenseman Shawn Belle to a ine year-2 way contract. Please read on. 

Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today the signing of forward Guillaume Latendresse and defenseman to a one-year, 2-way contract for the 2009-10 season. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Last season, Latendresse, 22, scored 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) and served 45 penalty minutes in 56 contests with Montreal. Despite missing 21 games due to injuries, the 6-2, 230-pound right-winger ranked third on the team with 140 hits and recorded an NHL career-best plus-4 rating.

In three seasons with the Canadiens, the Ste-Catherine, Quebec, native registered 82 points (46 goals, 36 assists) with 133 penalty minutes and 354 shots on goal in 209 regular-season games.

From 2003 to 2006, Latendresse amassed 210 points (96 goals, 114 assists) in 169 regular-season games with the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs. In 2006, the forward won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, in British Columbia.

Latendresse was selected in the second round by the Canadiens, 45th overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Last season, Shawn Belle registered 13 points (3 buts, 10 assists) and posted a plus-19 rating with 93 penalty minutes in 60 regular-season AHL games with the Hamilton Bulldogs. In four AHL campaigns, the 24-year-old amassed 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) with 321 penalty minutes and a plus-6 rating in 241 regular season contests, with Iowa, Houston and Hamilton.

Belle also represented Canada at the World Junior Championship on two occasions, winning the silver medal in 2004 in Finland, and the gold medal the following year in the United States.

The 6-1, 235-pound blueliner was acquired by the Canadiens from the Minnesota Wild in return for Corey Locke, on July 11, 2008. A native of Edmonton, Belle scored one point (1 assist) and recorded a plus-4 rating in nine NHL career games, all with Minnesota in 2006-07.

Belle was selected in the first round by the St. Louis Blues, 30th overall, at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Tags: bob gainey \ contract \ Guillaume Latendresse \ habs \ Montreal Canadiens \ NHL \ roster \ Shawn Belle \ signed \ signing