Montreal Canadiens general manager continued his busy off-season schedule by signing the potential RFA Max Pacioretty to a two-year deal.  As per club policy, the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed but according to the sources, it’s a two-year deal worth $3.25 million.

The 6’2”, 208 lbs forward enjoyed a career year showing improvement at every level before his season came to a sudden end from a vicious hit by Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins.  He started the season with the Hamilton Bulldogs and accumulated 32 points in 27 games scoring 17 goals, including 7 on the powerplay before being recalled by the big club on December 12.

Upon his promotion, he was put on the first line along with Captain Brian Gionta and the struggling Scott Gomez.  Pacioretty brought instant success to the line creating space for his teammates using his size.  At times showing his dazzling speed and size, he showed why the Canadiens picked him in the first round of the 2007 entry draft.  After scoring only 6 times in his previous 86 games in the NHL, Pacioretty scored 14 times in 37 games with 7 of his tallies coming on the powerplay.  He finished the season with 24 points improving his career totals to 49 points (20 goals and 29 assists).

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Max Pacioretty who is one of the most promising young players in our organization. A power forward with skills, Max showed that he can help our team and make a name for himself in the NHL. We are confident that he will have recovered fully from the injury that kept him out of the line-up for the last month of the regular season and the playoffs,” said Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier in his Press release today.

Pacioretty was given the green light to play in the playoffs had the Canadiens managed to beat the eventual Stanley cup champions, the Boston Bruins.  Pacioretty will be anxious to start the next season and continue where he left off last season.