Canadiens Sign O’Byrne, Belle and Glumac

[Thrillhouse]

MONTREAL -- Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Wednesday the signing of defenseman Ryan O’Byrne to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11) and free agent right-winger Mike Glumac to a one-year, two-way contract (2008-09).

“Ryan acquired a great deal of NHL experience last season. He is part of our young core of defensemen and certainly has the potential of becoming a very good NHL player. He is big, intense and his physical play are important assets for our team,’’ said Bob Gainey.

O’Byrne, who will turn 24 on July 19, will begin his second season in the NHL this fall. In 2007-08, he scored seven points (one goal, six assists) and served 45 penalty minutes in 33 games with the Canadiens, averaging 13:23 minutes of ice time per game. The 6-foot-5, 228-pound defenseman also played 20 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, posting eight points (2-6-8), a plus-4 differential and 49 penalty minutes. He was named to the Canadian AHL All-Star Team.

A native of Victoria, British Columbia, O’Byrne was selected by the Canadiens in the third round, 79th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played three seasons with the ECAC Cornell University Big Red from 2003 to 2006.

Glumac, 28, played with the AHL Peoria Rivermen in 2007-08, ranking sixth on the team in scoring with 49 points in 75 games (21 goals, 28 assists), along with 99 penalty minutes. He also played in four games with the St. Louis Blues.

Glumac (6-foot-2, 201 pounds), played in 40 career regular season games in the NHL, all with the Blues, including 33 games during the 2006-07 season. He collected 13 points (seven goals, six assists) and 38 penalty minutes. He has scored 244 points (113 goals, 131 assists) in 323 career games in the American Hockey League.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Glumac joined the Blues as a free agent on October 6, 2003. He spent four seasons with Miami-Ohio University in the CCHA from 1998 to 2002. He was named to the East Coast Hockey League All-Rookie Team in 2003, while with the Pee Dee Pride.

The Canadiens also announced Wednesday the signing of defenseman Shawn Belle to a one-year contract (2008-09). Belle, 23, was acquired from the Minnesota Wild on July 11 in return for forward Corey Locke.

[bengino]

Belle is also a 2 way contract (read that one The Score ticker)

i really like O'Byrne, hopefully he progresses nicely.

[Lucky Luke]

minor sign, Glumac sometimes have a fight