<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MONTREAL -- Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Wednesday the signing of defenseman Josh Gorges to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “Josh established himself as a key member of our defensive squad last season. His reliability and solid play made him one of our most improved players. He is a young defenseman with a very good work ethic,’’ said Bob Gainey. Gorges, 23, will begin his fourth season in the NHL this fall. In 2007-08, he set career highs in games played (62), points (0-9-9) and shots on goal (41). Gorges took part in the final 52 games of the season and played in all 12 playoff games. A native of Kelowna, British Columbia, Gorges was acquired by the Canadiens from the San Jose Sharks on February 25, 2007 along with a first-round selection in 2007 (Max Pacioretty), in return for Craig Rivet and a fifth-round selection in 2008. He has played 165 career games in the NHL, scoring 19 points (one goal, 18 assists), and serving 89 penalty minutes.</div> http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service...rticleid=368104 <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MONTREAL - Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Tuesday the signing of goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a two-year contract (2008-09 and 2009-10). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “Jaroslav has proven to be a quality NHL goaltender. He played very well for us when called upon over the past two seasons. He is young competitor with great skills and an excellent work ethic ’’ said Bob Gainey. Halak, 23, will begin his third season in the NHL this fall. In 2007-08, he played six games with the Canadiens, posting a 2-1-1 record, a 2.11 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. He played in 28 games with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, posted a 15-10-2 record, a 2.10 goals-against average and maintained the AHL’s second-best save percentage (.929). The previous year, he won all of his seven games played at the Bell Centre (7-0-0). A native of Bratislava, Slovakia, Halak was selected in the ninth round by the Canadiens, 271st overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in a total of 22 career games in the NHL, posting a 12-7-1 record, a 2.71 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.</div> http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service...rticleid=367993 <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MONTREAL -- Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Wednesday the signing of forward Andrei Kostitsyn to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “In 2007-08, Andrei was one of the top offensive players on our club. His offensive skills and the intensity he displayed proved to be key components to the success of our team” said Bob Gainey. Last season, the 23-year old left winger had a career year offensively, recording 53 points (26 goals and 27 assists) in 78 games. Kostitsyn was second on the team with 12 power play goals and ended the regular season with a +15 plus/minus ratio. In the spring, Kostitsyn led the team with five playoff goals. Born in Novopolotsk, Belarus, Kostitsyn will enter his fourth season with the Canadiens organization in the fall. The 6-foot-1, 201-pound forward has recorded 67 points (29 goals and 38 assists), 37 penalty minutes and a +19 plus/minus ratio in 112 NHL career games, all with the Canadiens. Kostitsyn, who played for his homeland Belarus at the World Hockey Championships on four occasions, was the Canadiens’ first round selection, 10th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.</div> http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app?articlei...mp;service=page
