HabsWorld.net -- 

The depth signings continue for the Habs on the opening day of free agency.  The team announced that they’ve signed forward Alex Belzile and defenceman Nate Clurman to one-year, two-way contracts.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

Belzile is someone that Montreal fans should be quite familiar with.  The 33-year-old spent parts of five seasons with the organization between AHL and NHL contracts.  He played in 31 games with the Habs in 2022-23, earning himself a two-year contract with the Rangers that summer, including a one-way pact for last season.

However, Belzile didn’t get a single NHL game over two years with New York.  Instead, he played a key role with AHL Hartford, tallying 19 goals and 37 assists in 66 games last season along with 119 penalty minutes.

At the AHL level, Belzile has 120 goals and 180 assists in 446 games over parts of 11 seasons.  In the NHL, he has six goals and nine helpers in 44 games with the Canadiens over parts of four years.

With Alex Barre-Boulet going to free agency, it’s possible that he will look to sign elsewhere, meaning that Belzile will likely take his role in the lineup.  He will count against one of Laval’s veteran slots next season, assuming he clears waivers to be sent down.

As for Clurman, he’s a right-shot defender who will presumably help fill Logan Mailloux’s spot in the lineup after he was dealt to St. Louis earlier today.  The 27-year-old has played on NHL contracts in each of the last four seasons but hasn’t seen action at the top level beyond a one-game stint with Pittsburgh this past season.

Clurman played in 31 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL in 2024-25, picking up two goals and 11 assists.  Over parts of five seasons at that level, he has seven goals and 25 assists in 141 appearances.  Clurman will require passing through waivers unclaimed to get to Laval next season.

Belzile’s Stats:

Clurman’s Stats: