HabsWorld.net -- 

Jeff Petry’s contract wasn’t Montreal’s only piece of business on Friday as the team announced that they have re-signed Joseph Blandisi to a one-year, two-way contract.  The deal will pay $700,000 at the NHL level and $325,000 in the minors.

The 26-year-old was acquired from the Penguins back in February in a swap of four AHL players.  However, an early injury limited him to just four games with Laval before the pandemic hit but he still managed four points in those contests.  He split the rest of the year between Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  In the NHL, he had two goals and three assists in 21 games and was more productive in the minors with six goals and eight helpers in 26 contests.

Despite having 101 games of NHL experience (including having played against their Qualifying Round opponent), Blandisi was somewhat surprisingly omitted from Montreal’s training camp roster for their return to play this summer.  As a result, it looked like he’d be a possible candidate to not receive a qualifying offer but instead, he should serve as one of Laval’s go-to veterans next season, assuming he clears waivers as he has done a few times in recent years.  While Blandisi is a natural centre, he may find himself on the left wing due to Laval’s projected depth down the middle for 2020-21.