HabsWorld.net -- 

The Habs were focused on finalizing their goalie situation for the upcoming
season on Tuesday, signing a pair of goaltenders.  Peter Delmas, who was in
Montreal’s system on a minor league deal last year, signed a 3 year entry-level
contract while the team also signed Nathan Lawson to a 1 year pact to take over
as Hamilton’s starter for 2011-12.

Lawson, 27, signed with the New York Islanders back in March of 2008 after
going undrafted.  He has spent most of his brief professional career
playing for their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.  Last season, he played 16
games for the Sound Tigers, posting a 6-5-4 record with a 2.90 GAA and a .913 SV%. 
He also spent 79 days up with the Islanders, where he played 10 games, going
1-4-2 with a 4.03 GAA and a .893 SV%.  He earned the league minimum of
$500,000 on a two-way deal last season.  He will replace Curtis Sanford who
signed in Columbus and Drew MacIntyre who has reportedly inked a deal with
Buffalo.

Delmas, 21, was originally a 2nd round pick (61st overall) of Colorado in the
2008 NHL Entry Draft.  However, he the Avs opted to not sign him, making
him an unrestricted free agent.  Delmas was invited to the Habs’ rookie
camp last season and with a strong performance, earned himself a two-way minor
league deal. 

He was well traveled in the 2010-11 campaign, suiting up for the Halifax
Mooseheads (QMJHL – 2 games), Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL – 2 games), the Wichita
Thunder (CHL – 5 games), and the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL – 39 games). 
Though he started out the year as a reserve for Wheeling, he played himself into
the starter’s role by year’s end.

Financial terms of the deals have not been officially disclosed at this time,
though Lawson’s deal is believed to be worth $550,000 in the NHL and $105,000 in
the AHL.

In other news, Josh Gorges filed for salary arbitration today, preventing him
from getting an offer sheet in the process.  If he and the Habs are unable
to come to contract terms prior to his hearing, he will receive a 1 year
contract and be eligible for unrestricted free agency next offseason.  The
filing also opens up a brief secondary buyout period for the Habs later this
month, though they’re highly unlikely to pursue that route now.  Alexandre
Picard, who spent all of last season with Montreal, signed a 1 year, $600,000
deal with Pittsburgh.

Nathan Lawson’s career stats:

Peter Delmas’ career stats: