The Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday reached an agreement with defenseman Jayden Struble, who has signed a two-year contract valid for next season and also offers him an opportunity to play in the American Hockey League (AHL) soon.
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In fact, the 21-year-old skater signed an agreement that allowed him to end the campaign with the Laval Rocket. The pact will earn Struble a salary of $775,000 per year in the National League (NHL) and includes a signing bonus of $92,500 for each year. He will make $70,000 per season in the AHL.
“Jayden is a second-round pick, a physical defenseman with great skating and a lot of skill,” Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said Wednesday after the general managers’ meeting in Florida. We’re really happy to have it. He’ll go to Laval and help Rocket get to the playoffs.”
“I think it has a very high ceiling. He still has to learn […] He will have the chance to develop as a player.”
Struble, the 46th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, has played for the Northeastern University Huskies for the past four seasons. In 2022-2023 he accumulated 12 points in 31 competitions while posting a +8 difference and spending 56 minutes in the dungeon. In 104 NCAA lifetime games, the guard has a total of 48 points.
On Saturday, the Huskies lost 2-1 to Providence in the East Division playoff quarterfinals, ruining their chances of reaching the NCAA tournament that leads to the Frozen Four. The American also provided an assist to his team’s only goal.
Struble already has several ties to the Montreal organization: Jordan Harris was his teammate at Northeastern and Kent Hughes was his family advisor when the latter was a players’ agent.
Sean Farrell, next?
With the Struble file wrapped up, CH’s general manager will surely want to tackle the files on the other junior players who haven’t finished their season, including Sean Farrell, who plays on the Harvard University team.
“Whether it’s with Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble or college players having a choice, we have to show that there is a plan in Montreal and that there is a place for them,” continued Hughes. We sat down, we discussed it all and we’re glad he made the decision to sign in Montreal.
“As soon as their season is over, we want to send them [à Laval]like last year.