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Montreal Canadiens sign Tomas Plekanec to a one-year $2.25 million deal

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 23: Look on Montreal Canadiens Center Tomas Plekanec (14) during the Colorado Avalanche versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 23, 2018, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 23: Look on Montreal Canadiens Center Tomas Plekanec (14) during the Colorado Avalanche versus the Montreal Canadiens game on January 23, 2018, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens bring back long-time centre Tomas Plekanec to a one-year deal after spending the rest of the 2017-18 season as a Toronto Maple Leaf.

It’s official! The turtleneck is back with the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs announced that it will be a one-year deal for Tomas Plekanec seeing him make 2.25 million. His contract will also see him make $250,000 for each 30, 40, and 50 games played and another $250,000 for 10 goals or 25 assists and if the team makes the playoffs.

In 60 games with Montreal this season, Plekanec scored 6 goals and 20 assists. He only added 2 assists with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the regular season but scored 2 goals and 2 assists in their 7 playoff games.

With offence being an element of his game that’s been on the decline, Plekanec’s role of being the reliable centre shouldn’t change. Perhaps who he plays with will get more points under his belt, but we’ll have to wait for training camp to see those combinations in play.

The transition of Plekanec with the team this past season was interesting. His contract status wasn’t talked about as much until it was apparent Montreal wouldn’t be a playoff team. If things were different, Marc Bergevin would’ve definitely kept the 35-year-old past the trade deadline as he was a staple on the team defensively.

However, the Montreal Canadiens found themselves at the belly of the beast and got assets for Plekanec instead of keeping him for the rest of the season. Those assets – Kerby Rychel, Rinat Valiev, and Jacob Olofsson (the second-round pick in the trade) – don’t look too bad.

With the Czech native back, he and the Habs will be getting that 1000 game celebration in the 2018-19 season. Plekanec is sitting at 998 regular season games played and will now reach the milestone as part of the organization. Based on the schedule, October 6th against the Pittsburgh Penguins is the special day.

The team will most likely plan a pre-game celebration for the accomplishment at their home opener against the Los Angeles Kings on the 11th.

Next: Breaking Down UFA Targets

With Plekanec on a contract, who, if anyone, is next?

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