Montreal Canadiens sign defenseman Jeff Petry to six-year deal
The Montreal Canadiens signed defenseman Jeff Petry to a six-year contract, keeping him with the team through the 2020-21 season, the team announced.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun reports the deal is worth $33 million, with an average of $5.5 million per year. Petry, 27, was set to become an unrestricted free-agent on July 1.
"We are very happy that Jeff has agreed to remain with the Montreal Canadiens for the next six seasons. To re-sign him to a new contract was one of our main off-season priorities. Jeff showed a tremendous will to commit to the Canadiens and stay in Montreal,” Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said.
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The Canadiens acquired Petry from the Edmonton Oilers in March for a 2015 second-round draft pick and a 2015 conditional fifth round pick.
“My wife and I made a decision that we strongly wanted to come back. We're happy a deal could be made rather quickly,” Petry added. "I felt that the team isn't far off (from winning a Stanley Cup). The pieces are there. That played into the decision as well."
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Petry had three goals and four assists in 19 regular-season games for the Canadiens and seven goals with 15 assists total in 78 games. He added two goals and an assist in 12 postseason games.
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