Canadiens re-sign Josh Gorges

The Montreal Canadiens on Friday night signed restricted free agent defenseman Josh Gorges to a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration. TSN reports the contract is for $2.5 million.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Josh Gorges for the 2011-12 season," General Manager Pierre Gauthier said in a statement. "He is a very reliable defenseman for our club. Josh is recovering extremely well from his knee injury that kept him out of the line-up for half of the regular season and the playoffs, and we look forward to seeing him at training camp."

Gorges, 26, completed his sixth season with the Canadiens in the NHL in 2010-11. He had 1 goal, 7 points and 18 penalty minutes  while averaging 21:10 of ice time in 38 games before sustaining a season-ending injury to his right knee on Dec. 26.

Since his NHL debut in 2005-06, Gorges has registered 59 points (9 goals, 50 assists) in 364 regular-season games, along with 183 PIM and a plus-12 rating He has 7 points, all assists, in 46 career playoff games.

The native of Kelowna, B.C., signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent on Sep. 20, 2002. He was acquired by the Canadiens from San Jose on Feb. 25, 2007.

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