Montreal Canadiens re-sign winger Michael Pezzetta to two-year contract extension

Canadiens GM reacts to 5th draft pick Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes reacts after the Habs secured the No. 5 pick in Monday's NHL draft lottery.

The Montreal Canadiens have signed winger Michael Pezzetta to a two-year, $1.625-million contract extension, the club announced Friday.

The Toronto native had seven goals and 15 points in 63 games with the team in 2022-23 -- his first full NHL season.

Pezzetta, 25, led Montreal in hits with 239, while his 77 penalty minutes topped all Canadiens forwards.

Selected with the 160th pick at the 2016 draft, the six-foot-one, 210-pound winger has 12 goals and 26 points in 112 career NHL games.

Pezzetta was set to become a restricted free agent July 1.

Cole Caufield and Denis Gurianov are Montreal's other two pending RFA forwards. Jonathan Drouin, Sean Monahan and Paul Byron are among the club's veterans poised for unrestricted free agency.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 2, 2023.