Canadiens Sign Center Brandon Baddock to One-Year Deal
By Scott Cowan
The Montreal Canadiens have signed center Brandon Baddock to a one-year, two-way contract, worth $700,000 in the NHL, and $110,000 in the AHL.
In what has been a fairly unassuming day one of free agency for the Montreal Canadiens, the team has made their first new acquisition, signing center Brandon Baddock to a one-year deal, worth 700,00$ in the NHL, and 110,000$ in the AHL.
A native of Vermilion, Alberta, Baddock has spent his entire career in the New Jersey Devils organization, since being taken in the sixth round by the team in the 2014 NHL entry draft. After spending his junior career with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, Baddock started his career in the ECHL before earning a full time role with the AHL’s Binghamton Devils.
At 6’03 and 220 pounds, Baddock’s primary draw is his size and toughness, developing a reputation as an enforcer with a tad bit of skill as a checker. Over his first 3 AHL seasons, Baddock has posted 7, 10, and 15 points respectively, so offense isn’t exactly his strong point, rather the fact he’s posted over 100 penalty minutes in each of those three seasons.
For fans who have been following the Habs AHL affiliates these last few seasons, Baddock’s assets are very similar to that of David “Brolldozer” Broll, a former sixth round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs who spent two years with the St. John’s Icecaps and Laval Rocket.
In Sylvain Lefebvre’s system, Broll struggled to find a place, but Baddock should fit much better into Joel Bouchard’s team first approach. He’ll likely join players like Kevin Lynch and Joe Cox in the Rocket’s bottom six, and give Laval some protection and penalty killing acumen to take the pressure off guys like Lynch.
While it’s highly unlikely he’ll play for the Canadiens come next year, Baddock brings some solid qualities to the Rocket and is a player who will fit into Bouchard’s system well. While simply a no-thrills signing typically seen towards the end of day one, Baddock marks the first of what Habs hope is many more, free agent pickups.