Canadiens Extend Alex Galchenyuk

Thursday night the Montreal Canadiens announced a two-year contract extension for center (or is he a winger?) Alex Galchenyuk.

The team didn’t disclose financial details on the contract, but the contract is reported to be worth a $2.8 million AAV, according to Pierre LeBrun. The deal carries an actual value of $2.5 million in the first season and $3.1 in the second.

That financial breakdown is important because when this bridge deal expires, Galchenyuk will be a restricted free agent with salary arbitration rights. Getting $3.1 million in the second season will help him spring into a bigger contract should he need to go to arbitration for his next contract.

Prêts pour deux autres années avec @AGally94? / Ready for two more years of Chucky? #GoHabsGo ???? pic.twitter.com/a146GWIEsb

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 30, 2015

The 21-year-old Milwaukee-native scored a career-high 20 goals last season to go along with a career-high 46 points. Last season was the first year where Galchenyuk posted significantly positive relative possession numbers with a score-adjusted CF%Rel of 3.2%, putting him fourth on the team.