The Hockey News: Headlines: Montreal Canadiens sign backup goalie Jaroslav Halak to two-year deal

Montreal Canadiens sign backup goalie Jaroslav Halak to two-year deal

2008-07-08 16:00:00

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a US$1.55-million, two-year contract.

The backup to Carey Price will earn $750,000 next season and $800,000 in 2009-10.

"Jaroslav has proven to be a quality NHL goaltender," Canadiens GM Bob Gainey said in a statement. "He played very well for us when called upon over the past two seasons. He is young competitor with great skills and an excellent work ethic."

Halak, 23, played six games with the Canadiens last season, going 2-1-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. He played in 28 games with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, posting a 15-10-2 record with a 2.10 GAA and the league's second-best save percentage at .929.

The Slovak native was selected in the ninth round by the Canadiens, 271st overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He is 12-7-1 in 22 NHL career games with a 2.71 GAA and .913 save percentage.

COMMENTS (8)

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Maxime Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:09)

How i love Team Haters...they don't root for anyone, they just like to trash a team...so Habs Haters, stop looking at the tip of your nose and try to see past it : Price (a rookie last year) played about 15 games in a row before the playoffs started, losing only 3 and allowing the Habs to finish 1st. In most of these games, he was faced with over 35 shots. The playoffs are a quite different game, much harder than the regular season, and Price again went in game after game. Medias and fans saw him as the rebirth of Ken and Patrick, the rookie who could win it all. Talk about pressure for a 20 year old rookie facing his first playoff run. At least, he has one thing Huet still doesn't have, and he signed for 5.6M$ a season...a playoff round win. Price will be an excellent goalie, he just has to be patient and learn to control himself when he wants to release the puck. But overall : not counting the playoffs, his regular season final stretch has been better than most goalies, and he will win a lot more games, you can count on it! In BoB We Should All Trust : GO HABS GO!

Clayton Bird Posted
(2009-04-30 06:34:01)

Bob Allisat - New York Islanders signed G Yan Danis Jul 03, 2008. I was watching TSN and The Habs have a big prospect on the way - 6'8" 2008 draft pick Jason Missiaen (116th overall) from the Petes - second coming of Ken Dryden? Bring on the bigger nets, NHL! One more year of experience for Halak & Price will do a world of good. C'mon THN, pick Montreal to finish 13th in the East again. Go Habs Go!!!

Bob Allisat Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:55)

The Habs have an entire future in their two great, young goaltenders. Price, Halak AND Yann Danis. Three outstanding goalies in the system now plus two more in their ongoing prospects camp: Cedric Desjardins and Loïc Lacasse. A wealth of netminder talent have always been Les Canadiens' good fortune. Even in the worst of times they had super luck in nets. More good work from Gainey, Carboneau, Muller, Jarvis, Melanson and company.

jbird Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:52)

The habs had better pray that Price/Halak plays better than he did in the playoffs. They should have at least tried to find a good vetran goalie. The book is out on Price HIGH GLOVE every time or just put it in his feet he may kick it in himself.

habs wont make the play-offs Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:51)

Is this the same Hal-hack that got beat in game 5 against Philly? Hhahahahahha. I would bet the farm that IF they had kept Huet on......that Huet would've won that game. Excellent trade Gainey. Montreals not going anywhere this season but down. Price's weak glove hand is weaker than Raycrofts glove hand. Price will turn out to be another Jim Carey. hey...they even share a name. HAHAHAHHAHAHA. Sucks to be you,Habs-not fans.

jono Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:50)

shut up about the laffs now this is montreal

flo Posted
(2009-04-30 06:33:50)

frankly i don't understand this deal unless it's loaded. halak is gonna be one of the top 1 goalies in a few years. montreal unfortunetely is sitting on 2 number ones and is leanning more to the mega error prone price. Halak won't get his just ice time if he's number 2. i thought that when they signed Denis it was so they could deal halak. i'm hoping for the habs that that's exactly what will happen. the sens could use a future prospect... but unfortunetely don't have much they can afford to part with... oh well gainey you've got good cards in your deck, don't mess it up.