MONTREAL - Montreal Canadiens defenceman Josh Gorges has inked a six-season contract extension, Canadiens' General Manager Pierre Gauthier reported Sunday.
Although financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed by the organization, several sources report that the average annual salary to be $3.9 million USD.
Gorges has served as assistant captain of the Canadiens since the beginning of the 2011-2012 season and has played in 39 games with the Canadiens this season, amassing 10 points (one goal and nine assists), plus 24 penalty minutes.
Gorges, 27, is a team-leading plus-6 and leads the NHL with 101 blocked shots. Gorges has also made 60 bodychecks and maintained an average of 22 minutes and 35 seconds of ice time per game.
In 307 career games with the Canadiens, Gorges has scored 59 points (nine goals, 50 assists). He has a plus-16, and 150 minutes in penalties.
The Kelowna, British Columbia, native signed a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks, September 20, 2002, after spending four seasons with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He also won silver at the World Junior Championship in 2004 and served as team captain of the Kelowna Rockets.
Gorges was acquired by the Canadiens on February 25, 2007 Sharks, along with a first round pick in 2007 draft pick (Max Pacioretty) in return for Craig Rivet and a fifth round pick in 2008.
