Goaltender Alex Auld signed a one-year, 1 million dollar deal with the Canadiens shortly after the opening of the free agency period.
The Alberta native, who split time between Dallas and the New York Rangers last season, posted a 9-7-3 record along with a .895 save percentage. Auld is notable for his involvement in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo to Vancouver. In 2006, he was traded along with Todd Bertuzzi and Bryan Allen to the Florida Panthers for Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek and a 6th round selection.
In his career, the 29 year old has a 83-82-26 record and a .904 save percentage. He also played 5 games for Team Canada at the 2006 World Championships, going 2-2 and averaging 2.85 goals against.
Later in the afternoon, it was announced that Curtis Sanford had been re-signed to a one-year, $550,000 deal, which is also worth over $200,000 in the AHL, making him the highest paid goalie in the AHL. Last season with Hamilton, Sanford went 23-11-3 and posted a .916 save percentage. In addition, he, along with Cedrick Desjardins, won the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Trophy for fewest goals against.
Dustin Boyd, who was acquired in the Sergei Kostitsyn deal, also signed a new deal with the Canadiens. He inked a one-year, $650,000 contract. Last season, the 23 year-old Boyd had 11 goals and 13 assists in 78 games split between Nashville and Calgary. In 210 career contests, the 6’0, 200 pound forward has 62 points.
Finally, it was evident that any ambitions of keeping recently acquired Dan Ellis quickly evaporated. The former Nashville Predator inked a two-year pact with the Tampa Bay Lightning worth 3 million dollars.