Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced Thursday that he has agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth US$10.5 million with free-agent defenceman Ben Chiarot. The deal has an annual salary-cap hit of $3.5 million.
Last season, Chiarot posted 5-15-20 totals, a plus-6 rating and 62 penalty minutes in 78 games with the Winnipeg Jets while averaging 19:47 of ice time. The 28-year-old is a left-hand shot — something the Canadiens were looking for on the blue line — and is 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Ben Chiarot today,” Bergevin said in a news release. “A solid and very reliable defender, this player fulfils a need for our team. This is a player who can get a lot of playing time and evolve in several situations. I am sure he will improve our defensive brigade.”
Chiarot fills a spot on the Canadiens’ blue line that was vacated when Jordie Benn, 31, signed a two-year, US$4-million deal with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent. Benn posted 5-17-22 totals in 82 games last season with the Canadiens and had a plus-15 rating while averaging 18:12 of ice time.
Chiarot finished second on the Jets with 139 blocked shots last season and was third in hits with 171. The Hamilton, Ont., native was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round (120th overall) at the 2009 NHL Draft. In 305 career regular-season games, Chiarot has 12-52-64 totals and 192 penalty minutes. He set career highs for goals (five) and points (20) last season.
The Canadiens now have 24 players under contract with $8.469 million in salary-cap space, according to CapFriendly.com . Three Canadiens forwards remain restricted free agents: Artturi Lehkonen, Joel Armia and Charles Hudon.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
