HabsWorld.net -- 

2012 couldn’t have gotten off to a better start for Montreal defenceman Josh
Gorges.  The blueliner signed a 6 year extension worth $23.4 million, a cap
hit of $3.9 million per season.  The announcement comes on the first
possible day that a new deal could be announced as players on 1-year contracts
cannot be extended until January 1st.

Gorges was acquired from San Jose just prior to the 2007 Trade Deadline in
exchange for Craig Rivet.  The Habs also acquired a 1st round pick in that
deal, used to select Max Pacioretty.  Although he saw limited minutes for
the rest of that campaign, he became entrenched as a regular the next year,
picking up a career high 23 points in 2008-09.

This season, Gorges sits second on the Habs in TOI per game, seeing over 22
and a half minutes per contest while leading the team in total time on ice while
shorthanded.  He also leads the team and the entire league in blocked shots
per game.  His offensive game has tailed off lately but he still has 10
points in 39 games, his first after undergoing ACL surgery just shy of the
midway point last season.

Last summer, he signed a one year deal worth $2.5 million while little talks
on a long-term pact were discussed in large part due to the concern about his
knee.  After the announcement was made, his agent noted that the "Habs
would not have had to pay that much if something had been done in the summer." 
The six year pact ties Tomas Plekanec for the longest contract signed in
franchise history and contains a full no-trade clause for the upcoming season
and a partial one for the duration of the deal.