Montreal Canadiens sign Xavier Simoneau to two-year deal

The Montreal Canadiens have signed center prospect Xavier Simoneau to a two-year contract with a $775,000 AAV.

Simoneau’s rights were set to expire on June 1, roughly two years after the Canadiens selected him in the sixth round as an overage player.

Simoneau is in the midst of his first pro season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. In 44 games, Simoneau has five goals and 28 points to sit tied for fifth in team scoring while leading all U-22 players on the team.

Prior to turning pro, Simoneau spent five years in the QMJHL, scoring 97 goals and 314 points in 252 games. The 2020 CHL and QMJHL humanitarian of the year also led all players with 17 assists during Charlottetown’s playoff run a year ago, only for the team to fall short.

At 5-foot-6, Simoneau is tied with San Diego’s Rocco Grimaldi for the league’s smallest forward. That has always been a big knock against Simoneau’s game, but he has continued to make himself relevant offensively.

Signing him to a two-year NHL deal will give the Canadiens an extra young prospect in the cupboard in a pinch situation. Simoneau’s size will likely limit his effectiveness at the NHL level, but he can still move well enough to excel in the AHL.

The Canadiens are firmly in the race for Connor Bedard, currently sitting 25th in the league. The team has seen some success recently with a 6-4-0 record over the past 10 games, all while having six players on injured reserve and three on long-term IR.