Forward Michael Ryder avoided salary arbitration by coming to terms on a one-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens Sunday.
Ryder was scheduled for a hearing in Toronto on Monday.
Details of his new one-year contract were not immediately available, but Ryder will receive a raise from the $2.2 million US he earned last season.
By securing Ryder to a contract, the Canadiens head into next season with all of their players signed.
The right-winger appeared in all 82 games for Montreal during the 2006-07 season, leading the hockey club with 30 goals and adding 28 assists.
Ryder, a Bonavista, N.L., native, has amassed 176 points, including 85 goals, in 244 career games.
Ryder scored his second career hat trick during a 6-5 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the final regular-season game last year, which eliminated Montreal from the playoffs.
The Canadiens drafted Ryder in the eighth round (216th overall) of the 1998 NHL draft.
Bombers bound for Grey Cup, lose Glenn
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers advanced to the Grey Cup for the first time in six years by stunning the Toronto Argonauts on Sunday but the team lost star quarterback Kevin Glenn in the process.
Kings return Jonathan Bernier to QMJHL
Los Angeles Kings rookie goaltender Jonathan Bernier was returned to the junior ranks on Monday.
Russia tops Canada for bronze at U-18 hockey
Canada was shut out of the medals at the Ivan Hlinka under-18 hockey tournament with a 5-4 loss to Russia in the bronze-medal game Saturday in Piestany, Slovakia.
Contact Us About Us HomeTuesday, November 18th, 2008