The Montreal Canadiens went through an incredible number of injuries in the past two seasons. Each year, they had about 600 man-games lost to injury meaning they were missing an average of seven or eight players every game of the season.
This opened the door for some players to play more than they would have if the team remained healthy. Some of those players stepped in and filled a hole for a few games and would never be heard from again. Others took advantage of their opportunity and proved to be better at the NHL level than anyone would have thought.
One of those players was Alex Belzile. He had long since proven he was a great player at the AHL level, but he wasn’t given a long look with the Canadiens. Until last season and he took full advantage of that call up.
Belzile was the captain of the Laval Rocket and an experience scorer. He played 31 games last season and scored 14 goals and 26 points. It was the fifth consecutive season he was among the leading scorers for the Rocket.
He was also called up for 31 NHL games. He put up far more offense than anyone expected when he scored six goals and 14 points from a fourth line role with other call ups like Michael Pezzetta and Jesse Ylonen and they outperformed expectations.
Still, it was not in the cards for the soon to be 32 year old Belzile to get a contract extension that he wanted with the Canadiens. The Riviere-du-loup native instead hit the open market this afternoon and he did not have to wait long before getting a new contract.
The New York Rangers have signed Belzile to a two-year contract that is a two-way deal for one year and a one-way deal for the second season.
Two year deal for Alex Belzile with the Rangers. Deal includes a one way for one season and a two way for the other.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) July 1, 2023
The Canadiens simply have too many forwards under contract for next season for Belzile to see a lane to become an NHL regular. Hopefully he can head into New York and earn a fourth line role for the next two seasons.
With free agency open, we don’t expect the Canadiens to be super active, but they already traded Joel Edmundson this morning and will lose a few players to free agency so maybe a roster spot opens up for a free agent.
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