The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension for defenceman Greg Pateryn.
"Greg is a young defenceman who has developed very well. He enjoys the physical play and brings more depth to our defensive group,” said general manager Marc Bergevin in a statement.
The 25 year old played 17 regular season and seven playoff games with the team last season, and was credited with three assists in the postseason.
Pateryn was called upon to replace Nathan Beaulieu, who went down with an upper-body injury in the third game of the Habs’ series with the Ottawa Senators.
With the Hamilton Bulldogs, Pateryn picked up 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 53 games.
He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round, 128th overall at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He came to Montreal in 2008 in a trade that sent forward Mikhail Grabovski down the 401.
The Habs added more defensive depth Wednesday by signing Joel Hanley to a one-year, two-way contract.
Hanley spent last season with the AHL's Portland Pirates.
The Canadiens also signed defenceman Mark Barberio, a Montreal native, to a one-year, two-way deal.
On the eve of free agency, Montreal re-signed forward Brian Flynn to a two-year, $1.9-million contract. Bergevin called Flynn a "fast, versatile and reliable player."
"Brian bought into the team's philosophy from the very first day," Bergevin said. "He brings the right attitude to the dressing room day in and day out, and has a professional approach to the game. We are proud to have him among our group of forwards."
-- with files from The Canadian Press
