from Canadiens.com
PRESS RELEASE
MONTRÉAL –Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced Wednesday the signing of forward Dany Massé to a three-year contract (2009-10 to 2011-12). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Massé, 20, finished second in scoring in the QMJHL this season with 110 points (44 goals, 66 assists) in 68 regular-season games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The 5-10, 188-pound forward fired a league-high 293 shots on goal in 2008-09, with a plus-41 rating and 52 penalty minutes.
Drafted in the second round, 23rd overall in the QMJHL Draft in 2004, Massé registered 284 points (110 goals, 174 assists) with 281 penalty minutes in five seasons with Val-d’Or, Acadie-Bathurst and Drummondville.
Last month, Massé was named CHL Player of the Week (period ending March 22) with 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) and a plus-4 rating in two playoff games against the Lewiston MAINEiacs.
Born in La Pocatière, Quebec, Massé is currently second in the QMJHL playoff scoring with 25 points (10 goals, 15 points) in eight games with the Voltigeurs, set to begin their semi-final series against the Rimouski Oceanic on April 17.
Not a bad signing.The Canadiens basically get a free 3rd or 4th round pick type player with the addition of Dany Massé.
He is on the small side (5’10” 188lb) but plays bigger and isn’t afraid to go into the corners or middle of the ice. He also has very good speed and is a gifted playmaker who also has a nose for the net.
Personally, I would have preferred the Habs signing his linemate, Yannick Riendeau (Bruins signed him last week to a three contract) or even a bigger, two way player like Robert Slaney who was recently signed by the Leafs.
I don’t really understand the thinking, they didn’t sign defensman Philippe Paquet, a big, smart, physical player who they drafted in 2005, but use a contract spot on Masse, who is none of those things. When they passed on Paquet, I assumed it was because they were concerned about the roster contract limit. It seems to me the prospect list is in much more need of a big defenseman than a small forward.
They still have time to sign Paquet and probably will do so in the coming months.
The great thing about NCAA prospects is that you have more time to allow them to develop and there isn’t a rush to limit them.
Gainey will sign Paquet to a contract and he will most likely start in Hamilton next year……time will tell.
Sorry…….there isn’t a rush to sign them
Pretty sure that Philippe Paquet is now an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team he chooses. He has played his full 4 seasons of NCAA eligibility. In any case using a roster spot on Masse seems a bit of a waste. I’m all in favor of the team giving some preference to local talent, but they already have Desharnais, Beauregard, Russell, Trotter, O. Latendresse, etc. as smallish skill guys who are longshots for the NHL. Most of them are Francophones. Plus Patrick Johnson who they drafted last year in the 7th round.
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