[Re-signed] Montreal locks up David Desharnais for 4 years

[Carcillo]

@RenLavoieRDS
David Desharnais contract is 4 year / 3.5 million avg. #canadiens #RDS

[ross10019]

When I saw the early announcement that the Habs were going to announce an extension, my first thought was "3 years, $3.5M per". so this deal is not surprising to me, and unlike some (Connor McKenna of TSN690, questioning whether the Canadiens can "win in the playoffs with a guy that size"), I think he'll more than earn that contract.

It's no surprise that it's for 4 years so covers 2/3 of the length of Pacioretty's deal, those guys go together like milk and honey. By the time this contract expirs Galchenyuk will have acceded to the no 1 C position and they'll have to make a decision about Davey - my bet is they trade Plekanec before then and it becomes Galcy/Desharnais one two. The only tricky part is Eller, who has started to play so well, will they convert him into a big winger full time? They certainly can't do that with Desharnais and same with Galchenyuk (except short term).

This raises Desharnais' value in fantasy leagues quite a bit in my mind, the fact that the Habs have clearly indicated he's their go to centerman for the foreseeable future and that he'll have Pacioretty (and Gallagher, most likely) to feed pucks to for the next 4 years.

[Bass56]

Great deal IMO. Gives the fans what they want and they get an unexpensive, skilled, hardworking and young player locked up for the next 4 years. As Ross said, this will help Pacioretty (and Desharnais) as both have clicked well over the past 2 seasons.

Bergevin is really doing a good job in his first year as GM (Therien, Prust, Subban, Ryder, Desharnais...)

[ericdaoust]

This raises Desharnais' value in fantasy leagues quite a bit in my mind, the fact that the Habs have clearly indicated he's their go to centerman for the foreseeable future and that he'll have Pacioretty (and Gallagher, most likely) to feed pucks to for the next 4 years.

Not in cap leagues. People loved his 800k salary.

[wendelclark17]

Great deal for the Habs as long as he continues the level of play he has shown the last 2 seasons, which I think he will.

[bondon]

Teams have spent $3.5M on worse things than David desharnais.

[lucifer316]

Teams have spent $3.5M on worse things than David desharnais.

teams have spent over $7m on worse things than DD

[DuklaNation]

Effectively neuters any chance for Eller to produce any significant #'s. If I were him, I'd ask for a trade in the off-season or walk after 13/14.

[Pengwin7]

Good contract. Fair value, IMO.

[wendelclark17]

at the risk of starting a shit storm ..... Man this makes Grabovski's contract look like an overpayment ....... discuss

[tgraveline]

ha ha. I really like this for both. He gets a raise, and they lock him up to a very affordable contract with the uncertainty of where the cap goes in the future.

[BlackGold]

Eller would also make great trade bait for Montreal.

Not sure what Montreal needs to add right now, if Bourque comes back for playoffs they are pretty well set. Maybe another depth Dman.

[ericdaoust]

Eller would also make great trade bait for Montreal.

Not sure what Montreal needs to add right now, if Bourque comes back for playoffs they are pretty well set. Maybe another depth Dman.

I would keep Eller. Why not? Depth is not a bad thing.