Canadiens Sign Pierre Dagenais and Jean-François Damphousse
July 4, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
The Montreal Canadiens, a parent club of the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, announced Friday the signings of two free agents, forward Pierre Dagenais and goaltender Jean-François Damphousse. Both players agreed to two-year contracts with the team (the 2003-2004 season plus one year at the club option). The Canadiens also signed forward Jonathan Ferland to a three-year contract. As per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Dagenais, 25, played in nine games with the Florida Panthers last season. He registered 35 points (21 goals, 14 assists) in 49 games with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound native of Blainville, Quebec has played in a total of 60 career games in the NHL with New Jersey and Florida, recording 19 points (13 goals, 6 assists) during that span. A New Jersey draft selection in 1997 (re-drafted by the Devils in 1998), Dagenais was claimed on waivers by the Panthers on January 12, 2002.
Damphousse, 23, played in 41 games with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Saint John Flames last season. He posted a 17-19-4 record, maintaining a 2.92 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. The New Jersey Devils' first round selection (and 24th overall pick) at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, Damphousse was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim with Petr Sykora, Mike Commodore and Igor Pohanka in return for Jeff Friesen, Oleg Tverdovsky and Maxim Balmochnykh on July 6, 2002. On March 11, 2003, he was traded to the Calgary Flames with Commodore in return for Rob Niedermayer. Damphousse, a native of St-Alexis-des-Monts, Quebec, played in six NHL games with the Devils during the 2001-02 season. He posted a 1-3-0 record, a 2.45 goals against average and a .896 save percentage.
Ferland, 20, ranked second in scoring on the QMJHL Acadie-Bathurst Titan in 2002-03. He registered 89 points in 68 games (45 goals, 44 assists), and 94 penalty minutes. Ferland was the Canadiens' fifth selection (212th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
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