Montreal Canadiens ink checking centre de la Rose for 2-year contract

The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Jacob de la Rose to a two-year contract on Thursday.

The 23-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, is to earn an average of US$900,000 per season, which is $25,000 less per year than on his previous contract.

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The six-foot-three 210-pound de la Rose, mainly a defensive forward, had four goals and eight assists in 55 games for Montreal last season — his first full NHL campaign.

He also helped Sweden win the IIHF World Championship, contributing a goal and an assist in 10 games.

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The 2013 second-round draft pick has eight goals and 19 points in 119 career NHL games.

The signing leaves the Canadiens with $12.1 million in unused salary cap space with restricted free agents Phillip Danault and Joel Armia, as well as prospects Kerby Rychel and Michael McCarron, still to be signed.

Danault and Armia have filed for salary arbitration.