The Habs took care of a pending unrestricted free agent on Sunday, announcing the re-signing of winger Brandon Baddock to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal is worth $750,000 in the NHL, $150,000 in the AHL, and has a total guarantee of $175,000, a nice raise on the $110,000 AHL salary he received this season.
The 26-year-old signed with Montreal last fall in free agency as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent after spending the first four years of his professional career with New Jersey. Baddock played in 25 games with Laval last season, notching two goals and three assists along with 64 penalty minutes to lead the team. For someone that was viewed as merely fourth line toughness, Joel Bouchard showed no hesitation in moving him up when injuries arose and he held his own on the second and third lines.
Baddock could have tested the open market again next month as he was once again eligible for Group 6 free agency but will now remain with the Habs and almost certainly have the same role he did this season – fourth line physicality in Laval. He joins Lukas Vejdemo and Laurent Dauphin as players that could have gone to unrestricted free agency but instead decided to remain with the Canadiens for next season.
Baddock’s Stats: