Montreal Canadiens sign Galchenyuk to two-year deal

MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with forward Alex Galchenyuk.

Galchenyuk will count $2.8 million US against the salary cap each of the next two seasons, according to multiple reports.

The 21-year-old set career highs with 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points last year.

He has 42 goals and 62 assists in 193 regular-season games and four goals and six assists in 22 playoff games.

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Galchenyuk was the Canadiens’ last restricted free agent.

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“He (Galchenyuk) shows maturity and fits in well within our young players development philosophy,” said Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin in a statement.

“Alex is an integral part of our core of forwards and we are confident in his ability to continue to improve his game.”

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Montreal selected the Milwaukee, Wisc., native with the third pick in the 2012 draft.

Locking up Galchenyuk could put a ribbon on the Habs’ off-season, which included re-signing defenceman Jeff Petry to a long-term deal, trading Brandon Prust to Vancouver for Zack Kassian and signing free-agent winger Alexander Semin.

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Galchenyuk’s immediate future is unclear after playing his first three seasons as a winger.

The six-foot-one, 198-pound player is considered by many to be a future full-time NHL centre.