Habs sign camp tryout Fleischmann for year
Tomas Fleischmann is one of the lucky few players to turn a professional tryout contract into a full-time gig. The 31-year-old forward has signed a one-year pact with the Montreal Canadiens after a successful preseason on a PTO. According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, Fleischmann’s new contract is worth $750,000.
Fleischmann is a solid veteran forward who has had some productive years in the NHL. However, as the points have dried up, Fleischmann has become a somewhat reliable and versatile two-way forward. Still, if he can help provide some secondary scoring for the Habs, especially at that price, he should be a great fit.
Last season, Fleischmann split time between the Florida Panthers and the Anaheim Ducks. He had 27 points in 66 total games during 2014-15 and appeared in six postseason contests as the Ducks reached the Western Conference finals.
It’s hard to explain where the offense has gone for Fleischmann, but he did have 61 points in 82 games in his first season with a strong Florida Panthers club that reached the playoffs in 2011-12. He also had 35 points in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season in South Florida. The past two years, Fleischmann has appeared in 146 total games and notched 55 points over that span.
He has 310 points over 581 NHL games in a career that included a six-season run with the Washington Capitals and a brief stint with the Colorado Avalanche in 2010-11.
It was somewhat surprising that Fleischmann couldn’t find a contract as an unrestricted free agent, instead of having to settle for going to camp on a PTO. That was the story for a lot of established players this summer, however. His 2014-15 wasn’t overly impressive, but this is a player who still has a lot to offer in a depth role.
In four preseason games with the Habs, Fleischmann had three points while playing mostly in a bottom-six role.
The Czech Republic native probably doesn’t put Montreal over the top in a year it should be thinking about being a Stanley Cup contender, but good depth on the cheap is extremely helpful.
Tomas Fleischmann (left) will be sticking around with the Canadiens. (USATSI)
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