The Montreal Canadiens have signed prospect Mattias Norlinder to a standard, three-year entry-level contract. The deal comes as the team battles in the 2020-21 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the front office still has time to focus on future moves. The team announced the signing Thursday morning.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2021-22 to 2023-24) with defenseman Mattias Norlinder.#GoHabsGo https://t.co/wPpMsAXyjO
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 3, 2021
Canadiens Sign Mattias Norlinder
Norlinder had what looks like a solid if unspectacular 2020-21 season with Frolunda HC in Sweden’s SHL. The 21-year-old defender posted five goals and 10 points in 37 games during the regular season, but he did surge somewhat in the postseason with three goals and five points in seven games. He also played in a small handful of international games for Sweden but failed to record a point.
The Canadiens originally selected Norlinder in the third round of the 2019 Draft. He is roughly average in height, listed as either 5’11” or 6’0″ depending on the source and weighing in somewhere between 180 and 190 pounds. Last Word’s scouting report from that draft noted that the second-year eligible skater is a great skater with good puck ability, but isn’t the most defensive defender at times. That is something Montreal will improve within their minors. The good thing is that Norlinder could be a valuable depth defender capable of driving offence.
What This Means For The Future
The Habs probably don’t need Norlinder ready for 2021-22. It’s more likely that he works with the team’s ECHL affiliate or AHL team in Laval for at least one season to adjust to North American hockey. Any progress he does make could put him in line for a regular position in 2022-23. That is when the team could lose several defenders to free agency based on the current cap hit schedule. Norlinder will almost assuredly reach the NHL by the time this contract is over; Montreal’s blue line is on the older side and will only get older, but it may take a year or two for the current logjam to clear.
Main Photo:
