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Saku Koivu, the Montreal Canadiens' longtime captain and fan favorite, signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Wednesday.
The deal is worth $3.25 million.
Koivu was Montreal's captain for nearly 10 years, tying Jean Beliveau for longest-serving captain in the team's 100-year history. He had 191 goals, 450 assists and 623 penalty minutes with the Canadiens, the only team Koivu has played for during his NHL career.
Koivu successfully overcame non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and returned to hockey seven months after being diagnosed in September 2001.
"Saku Koivu's character and leadership qualities are unquestioned," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "He is a skilled playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team."
Koivu, a two-time All-Star who turns 35 in November, reached the 600-point milestone with a goal against Florida in October. He had 16 goals and 34 assists in 65 games last season.
He has recorded 40 or more assists in five of the past six seasons and surpassed 50 points in the past six consecutive seasons.
"For us it's been an exciting day, an exciting couple of days. After spending 14 years in Montreal and not experiencing anything else in the NHL, it's the first time for me to become a free agent," Koivu said. "When that happens, there's a lot of question marks and you don't know for sure what's going to happen and where you're going to end up.
"Now that today we've signed with Anaheim, I can tell you and my family and I are extremely happy, we're extremely excited about the new challenge and if it was up to me I'd like to start the season next week."
The deal is worth $3.25 million.
Koivu was Montreal's captain for nearly 10 years, tying Jean Beliveau for longest-serving captain in the team's 100-year history. He had 191 goals, 450 assists and 623 penalty minutes with the Canadiens, the only team Koivu has played for during his NHL career.
Koivu successfully overcame non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and returned to hockey seven months after being diagnosed in September 2001.
"Saku Koivu's character and leadership qualities are unquestioned," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "He is a skilled playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team."
Koivu, a two-time All-Star who turns 35 in November, reached the 600-point milestone with a goal against Florida in October. He had 16 goals and 34 assists in 65 games last season.
He has recorded 40 or more assists in five of the past six seasons and surpassed 50 points in the past six consecutive seasons.
"For us it's been an exciting day, an exciting couple of days. After spending 14 years in Montreal and not experiencing anything else in the NHL, it's the first time for me to become a free agent," Koivu said. "When that happens, there's a lot of question marks and you don't know for sure what's going to happen and where you're going to end up.
"Now that today we've signed with Anaheim, I can tell you and my family and I are extremely happy, we're extremely excited about the new challenge and if it was up to me I'd like to start the season next week."
