HabsWorld.net -- 

The Habs have taken care of one of their restricted free agents.  The team announced Thursday that they’ve signed recently acquired winger Brett Berard to a one-year, two-way contract.  The deal pays $850,000 at the NHL level, $175,000 in the minors, and has an overall guarantee of $205,000.

Montreal acquired the 23-year-old from the Rangers last month in exchange for defenceman William Trudeau in a swap of players who could use a change of scenery.  Berard had reportedly asked for a trade a few days before the swap with the hopes of landing somewhere where he’d have a better shot at NHL playing time.

Berard played in 35 games with New York two seasons ago, putting up 10 points and it looked like he might have the inside track at a regular role with them.  However, things didn’t go as well last season as he was held off the scoresheet in 13 NHL contests while his AHL output dropped to six goals and 16 assists in 41 appearances with Hartford.

Berard will need to pass through waivers unclaimed next season to return to the minors; it will be his first year of waiver eligibility.  If he doesn’t secure a full-time spot with the Canadiens, he’ll be waived in the fall with the hopes of getting him to Laval where he’d likely play a top-six role with the Rocket.

Montreal has seven remaining restricted free agents. Zach Bolduc, Kirby Dach, Jared Davidson, Sean Farrell, and Hunter McKown are the forwards while Maksymilian Szuber and Arber Xhekaj are the defencemen still needing new deals.