The Montreal Canadiens continue checking things off their offseason to-do list. With the NHL Draft and early days of free agency in the rearview mirror, and a trade of veteran Joel Edmundson to clear out room for a younger defenseman, the list is getting shorter.
Offseason news starts to become less frequent at this time of year. Many team executives are quite busy in the early days of free agency, but by the middle of July, things can get pretty quiet until early September when training camps begin again.
However, the Canadiens continue to get things done as they have now re-signed two of their remaining restricted free agents. Nicolas Beaudin and Lucas Condotta have agreed to terms on contracts for the 2023-24 season.
Beaudin was acquired in a trade for Cam Hillis early last season and he put in an impressive stint with the Laval Rocket. He played 39 AHL games in the Canadiens organization after the deal and scored two goals and 25 points.
The Chateauguay, Quebec native was a first round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018, and has played 22 NHL games in his career, scoring six points. He will battle the likes of Mattias Norlinder, Jayden Struble and William Trudeau for ice time on the left side of the defense.
Beaudin is 23 years old and his cap hit will be $775,000 at the NHL level next season and he will earn $90,000 if he spends the whole year in the minors. He will be a restricted free agent once again following the 2023-24 season.
Condotta is an undrafted free agent signing that joined the Canadiens organization late in the 2021-22 season following the completion of his college career at UMass-Lowell. The 2022-23 season was his first full year as a pro and he scored 16 goals and 31 points in 72 AHL games for the Rocket. He was also called up for one NHL game and scored on his first ever shot on goal at the big league level.
Condotta, a 6’2″ forward signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens, and it comes with a cap hit of $775,000 at the NHL level as well.
The Canadiens only remaining restricted free agent now is Jesse Ylonen.
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