Tuesday, 22.06.2010 / 11:34 AM / moves

Montreal Canadiens

PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL – Canadiens general manager Pierre Gauthier announced Tuesday the signing of forward Mathieu Darche to a one-year contract (2010-11). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Darche, 33, registered 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists), and fired 43 shots on goal in 29 games with the Canadiens in 2009-10. Three of his tallies were game-winning goals.

Darche started the season with the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs where he recorded 25 points in 32 games (16 goals, 9 assists). He was recalled by the Canadiens on January 19, and participated in the team’s 29 of the last 32 games. He also played in 11 of the Canadiens’ 19 playoff games.

Since his debut in the NHL in 2000-01, Darche has amassed 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) with 191 shots on goal and 30 penalty minutes in 130 NHL regular-season games.

The 6-01, 215-pound forward native of Montreal signed with the Canadiens as a free agent on July 2, 2009.

Mathieu Darche met with the Montreal media just hours after inking his first-ever one-way NHL deal.

“This is the first time I’ve had a one-way contract in my 10-year career. It’s definitely exciting for me,” offered Darche. “It’s a huge vote of confidence from the team. We had a lot of success last year and the fact that they consider me part of the group means a lot.”

“There’s a fine line between playing in the AHL or the NHL. There are a lot of players in the AHL that have never gotten the chance to prove what they can do. When I was called up this year, things worked out and the team was winning. Once a team starts winning it isn’t time to make changes,” said Darche who is eager to start looking for a home in Montreal over the summer. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”