MONTREAL

NHL free agency: Habs tender offer sheet to Hurricanes' Aho

CTV Montreal

Adam Kovac CTVNewsMontreal.ca Digital Reporter

Published Monday, July 1, 2019 12:20PM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, July 2, 2019 12:33PM EDT

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20), of Finland, celebrates his goal during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series next to Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in Washington. The Hurricanes won 4-3 in double overtime. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Text:

The Montreal Canadiens tendered an offer sheet to Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho on Monday, the first day of NHL free agency.

UPDATE: The Hurricanes matched the offer.

According to the team's Twitter account, the offer is for five years, with an average annual value of $8.454 million.

Aho is a restricted free agent, which gives the Hurricanes the opportunity to match the Canadiens offer. If they decline, the team will be compensated by a package of draft picks. With the value of the offered contract, the Canadiens would give up a first, second and third round pick in the NHL Entry Draft.

The 21-year-old Aho posted a career-best 30 goals and 83 points last year. In 242 NHL games, he's scored 83 goals and 114 assists.

The Montreal Canadiens’ first move of the day was a small one.

The club shored up the backup goalie position, signing Keith Kinkaid to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million.

The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year, one-way contract ($1.75 million) with goaltender Keith Kinkaid.#GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 1, 2019

Last year Antti Niemi was given the task of backing up star goalie Carey Price, but inconsistent play led the Habs to not offer him a new contract.

The 29-year-old goalie has posted a career record of 64-55-17 during six seasons with the New Jersey Devils. He has a career GAA of 2.90 and save percentage of .906. Last year Kinkaid had the worst numbers of his career, going 15-18-6 with a .981 save percentage and 3.36 GAA.

Kinkaid was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in March but never played a game with the team.

The Canadiens also signed forward Riley Barber to a one-year, two-way contract.

Barber had no points in three career NHL games with the Washington Capitals, all played in the 2016-17 season.

Last year, he posted 31 goals and 29 assists in 64 games for the AHL's Hershey Bears.