It's official, the Montreal Canadiens have signed French forward Alexandre Texier to a one-year contract.
The contract will carry a $1 million annual average value (AAV), a considerable discount compared to his previous deal, which involved a $2.1 million AAV .
Texier has struggled to find his rhythm this season with the St. Louis Blues , which led to the 26-year-old forward being placed on waivers. Once no NHL team submitted a claim, Texier and the Blues mutually agreed to terminate his contract, opening the door for a deal with the Habs.
The Canadiens lost both Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook to injury, leaving their already shallow centre-depth in a precarious situation, to say the least.
Texier, who was mostly used as a winger this season, will give head coach Martin St-Louis a few more roster options at a time when the potential forward combinations are limited.
What To Expect From Alex Texier
The 6'1″ forward possesses above-average speed, not to mention a fairly well-balanced offensive skill set. His shot, in particular, can do damage when he finds open ice near the crease. It should also be noted that he's left-handed, an important addition to a lineup that is currently populated by right-handed centres.
He only registered his name on the scoresheet once in nine games with the Blues this season, but history suggests he should still bring a certain level of offensive potential to the table for the Habs.
In 241 career games, the Saint-Martin-d'Heres native has scored 40 goals and 51 assists, with the bulk of his production coming in the five seasons he spent with the Columbus Blue Jackets .
Texier isn't expected to be a game changer for the Canadiens, though that's par for the course when we consider his salary-cap hit, as well as his cost of acquisition. He will provide depth at a time when there's little to none to be found in the lineup.
Related Headlines

