HabsWorld.net --
The Habs have locked up two of their remaining restricted free agents. On Monday, the team announced that they’ve signed forwards Jared Davidson and Hunter McKown to one-year, two-way contracts. Both players will make $850,000 in the NHL, $135,000 in the minors, and the deals have guaranteed payouts of $175,000.
Davidson wrapped up his entry-level pact last season. A fifth-round pick by the Canadiens in 2022, he got off to a hot start with the Rocket (nine goals in 13 games), earning himself an early-season recall. The 24-year-old played in ten games with Montreal before being sent back down. In those outings, he had one assist, nine shots, and 18 hits in 8:43 per game of ice time.
Unfortunately for both Davidson and the Rocket, he struggled mightily upon being sent back down, managing just seven tallies in 40 games the rest of the way. As the year went on, his spot on the depth chart started to drop and he even found himself scratched in the playoffs at times.
Still, for someone who got into 10 NHL games last season and had a 24-goal AHL showing in 2024-25, Davidson has done enough to get another opportunity. He’ll need to pass through waivers unclaimed in training camp to return to Laval. Assuming he does, he projects to start in their bottom six to start next season and will look to earn a bigger role under new head coach Daniel Jacob.
As for McKown, the Habs acquired the centre last month from Columbus in exchange for winger Luke Tuch. The 24-year-old signed with the Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent back in 2023 and played with them down the stretch that season, picking up two assists in a dozen games.
However, that’s all the NHL action he has seen in his career. Since then, McKown has played exclusively in the AHL with Cleveland, ranging between 24 and 31 points in his three seasons. Last year, he picked nine goals and 16 assists in 63 games with the Monsters.
Like Davidson, McKown will need to pass through waivers unclaimed in the fall to make it to Laval. Assuming he does, he also projects to be in their bottom six to start the season.
With these signings, the Habs are down to four remaining restricted free agents: forwards Zach Bolduc and Sean Farrell, plus defencemen Maksymilian Szuber and Arber Xhekaj.
