The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Alex Newhook to a four-year contract extension with a $5.55-million cap hit, the team announced Tuesday.
The Canadiens also inked defenseman Arber Xhekaj to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Xhekaj was a restricted free agent, and the contract is for this season. He will be an RFA with arbitration rights next summer.
Newhook tallied 13 goals and 25 points in 42 games last season. He went off in the playoffs, producing seven goals and 10 points in 19 contests while scoring the series-winning goals in Game 7 of both the first and second rounds.
Newhook, 25, was set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer. He'll carry a $2.9-million cap hit this season.
The Canadiens acquired Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche in June 2023. He has 70 goals and 151 points in 338 career games over six seasons with Colorado and Montreal.
Xhekaj had one goal, four points, and 116 penalty minutes in 65 games last year. He also led Montreal with 140 hits. Xhekaj added two points with 28 penalty minutes in 13 playoff contests.
The 25-year-old has 10 goals, 33 points, and 416 penalty minutes in 230 career games over four seasons in Montreal. The Canadiens signed him as an undrafted free agent in October 2021.
Xhekaj's signing leaves four unsigned RFAs around the NHL: Cutter Gauthier (Anaheim), Alexander Nikishin (Carolina), Adam Fantilli (Columbus), and Simon Edvinsson (Detroit).
Montreal signed RFA Zack Bolduc to a four-year contract with a $4.2-million cap hit Sunday.
The Canadiens have $2.8 million in projected cap space after signing Xhekaj, according to PuckPedia.
