Canadiens sign RW Laraque, G Denis

Jul 4, 2008 - 5:04 AM MONTREAL (Ticker) -- After 10 seasons in the NHL, Montreal native Georges Laraque is heading home.

Looking to add a physical presence to their lineup, the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday signed the hard-nosed enforcer to a three-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but TSN of Canada reported the deal is worth $4.5 million and includes a partial no-trade clause.

"It's been a few years now that I've been imagining what it would be like to play for the Canadiens," Laraque said. "I was born in Montreal, my whole family lives in Montreal. I knew that I wanted to play here, not at the tail end of my career, but in my prime."

Laraque, 31, played 71 games with the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins last season, recording four goals, nine assists and a team-leading 141 penalty minutes. He appeared in 15 of the Penguins' 20 playoff games, helping the club reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Laraque reached the Finals twice in the past three seasons, having played in 15 postseason contests with the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.

"A 10-year veteran, Georges is the kind of player who made his mark in the NHL," Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey said. "With his physical play and determination, we are convinced that he will add valuable energy to our group of players."

One of the most feared fighters in the NHL, Laraque was acquired by the Penguins from the Phoenix Coyotes at the trade deadline on February 27, 2007.

A second-round pick of Edmonton in 1995, the 6-3, 243-pound tough guy has amassed 52 goals, 96 assists and 1,037 penalty minutes in 634 regular-season games with the Oilers, Coyotes and Penguins. He will add a much-needed physical presence on a Montreal roster filled with forwards more interested in displaying their offensive talents than fighting.

"Since there hasn't been a true heavyweight here in a while, a player like me knew that facing Montreal meant it would be an easy night," Laraque said. "I knew that I could get away with doing whatever I wanted against a small team like the Canadiens, and I took advantage of that fact."

The Canadiens on Thursday also signed goaltender Marc Denis, another Montreal native, to a one-year contract.

A 10-year veteran, Denis spent last season as a backup with Tampa Bay, going 1-5-0 with a 4.05 goals-against average in 10 appearances. He also saw action with Norfolk of the American Hockey League, where he went 11-17-2 in 32 games.

The 30-year-old, who was drafted 25th overall by Colorado in 1995, has a 112-179-31 record with 16 shutouts and a 3.02 GAA in 348 career contests with the Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and Lightning.