Senators sign forward Mathieu Joseph to 4-year, $11.8M US extension

The Ottawa Senators have agreed to terms with forward Mathieu Joseph on a four-year contract extension worth $11.8 million US on Thursday.

Ottawa acquired Joseph in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Nick Paul in March.

He established career highs of 18 assists and 30 points in 69 total games played last season.

Joseph, of Laval, Que., was drafted 99th overall in the fourth round of the 2015 draft by the Lightning.

In 232 career games, he carries totals of 41 goals and 41 assists.

The Montreal Canadiens have named former NHL defenceman Stephane Robidas as an assistant coach on Martin St. Louis' staff.

The 45-year old Robidas spent last season as head coach of the Magog Cantonniers in the Quebec U18 AAA Development Hockey League

He led the team to a league title and was named a finalist for coach of the year.

Robidas was selected by the Canadiens in the seventh round (164th overall) of the 1995 NHL draft.

He had 57 goals and 201 assists over 937 regular-season games with Montreal, Dallas, Chicago, Anaheim and Toronto.

"We are very lucky to have someone of Stephane's calibre join our coaching staff," St. Louis said in a statement. "His recent experience as an NHL player, and his outstanding hockey background, will be excellent assets for the development of our players."

St. Louis will be heading into his first full season as head coach. He took over as interim head coach on Feb. 9 after Dominique Ducharme was fired and signed a three-year contract on June 1.

The Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed defenceman Ethan Bear to a one-year, $2.2 million contract.

The team announced the deal Thursday, exactly one year since the Hurricanes acquired Bear in a trade with Edmonton.

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