The Habs have settled one of their two potential arbitration hearings as they’ve signed winger Joel Armia to a one-year, $1.85 million contract.

Although training camp is still more than two months away, the Habs are getting a head start on their invitation list as they’ve invited defenceman Simon Despres to camp.

The hope for Max Pacioretty signing an extension to stay with the Habs appears to be just about done now. Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic is reporting that Pacioretty has been told that there will be no contract talks and that they will look to trade him as soon as possible.

It took quite a while but the Habs have finalized their coaching staff, hiring Luke Richardson as an Assistant Coach that will work with their defence.

With the arbitration deadline approaching, the Habs came to terms with Jacob de la Rose on a two-year contract worth a total of $1.8 million. Meanwhile, both Joel Armia and Phillip Danault filed for arbitration.

We’re still three months from the season starting but already the Habs are getting hit hard on the injury front. The team announced that Shea Weber underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus and will be out five-to-six months.

As always, there were plenty of signings of July 1st but this time, the Habs were largely on the sidelines. Our writers weigh in about what Montreal did and didn’t do at the beginning of free agency.

Before Montreal’s brief foray into free agency, they swung a deal to add Joel Armia from the Jets in exchange for basically just cap space. Our writers offer up their thoughts on the acquisition.