Forward Tomas Fleischmann signed a 1 year, $750,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens, earning it after receiving a professional tryout with the club.
#canadiens Tomas Fleischman: 2015-16 $750 000
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) October 4, 2015
Fleischmann has looked good in his tryout with the Habs, playing on a proposed third line with forwards David Desharnais and Dale Weise. Playing on his natural left wing, Fleischmann has brought instant chemistry with the two men, leading to several two on one rushes and good offensive firepower. The Czech winger is no stranger to the Montreal Canadiens, who ended his best season in Washington in the first round of the 2011 NHL playoffs.
Fleischmann, 31, has played 581 games in the NHL, most recently last season with the Florida Panthers and Anaheim Ducks. With 123 goals, 187 assists for 310 points, Fleischmann was just coming off of a $18 million contract paying him $4.5 million across four years. He scored 21 points in 52 games with the Panthers and 6 points in 14 games with the Ducks, adding one point in six playoff games for Anaheim.
Drafted 63rd overall in 2002 by the Detroit Red Wings, Fleischmann never suited up for a game as he was included in a deal to bring Robert Lang to the Red Wings. Fleischmann was off to the Washington Capitals where he played until the 2010-11 season. His best season was in 2009-10 scoring 23 goals and 51 points in 69 games. Fleischmann had played centre that season. He then moved back to the left wing when Washington traded Tomas Fleischmann to the Colorado Avalanche for defenceman Scott Hannan. The Avalanche was a kick start in Fleischmann’s gears as he scored 21 points in 22 games. His momentum was unfortunately ended when he was diagnosed with pulmonary emboli and missed the rest of the 2010-11 season.
As a free agent, Tomas Fleischmann signed the aforementioned four year deal with the Florida Panthers, where he led the team in scoring for his first two seasons with the Panthers. In 2013-14, Fleischmann’s scoring totals dropped to the floor with only 28 points in 80 games, potting only 8 goals in the process. Some speculate it could be due to the anticoagulants he has to take for his blood clot issue from 2010-11, which nearly ended his career.
Fleischmann played with new Montreal Canadiens teammate Tomas Plekanec at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
