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We have a confirmation regarding the signing of right-shot defenseman Bryce Pickford by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.
According to the information circulating, the agreement is for three seasons and will take effect next season. This means Pickford does not burn a year of his contract right away, even though the signing is complete.
He could therefore arrive as reinforcement with the Canadiens as early as next season, at the earliest, depending on his 2026 training camp.
Confirmed: Signing of defenseman Bryce Pickford by the Montreal Canadiens
The right-shot defenseman is 19 years old, and the Montreal Canadiens selected him 81st overall in 2025. Montreal is therefore securing his rights while keeping the door open for a logical progression for a player who is still in junior.
The numbers explain why Kent Hughes acted now.
With Medicine Hat in the WHL, Pickford has 25 goals and 44 points in 31 games this season. Last spring, he produced 13 goals and 25 points in 18 playoff games.
The key detail is the timing of his contract. His entry-level deal begins in the 2026-27 season, meaning next year, and will run for three seasons from that point. For the Canadiens, this is a simple way to control the situation without rushing the next step. In the short term, this changes nothing in the team’s timeline.
Pickford continues to play, score goals, and build a resume that is already drawing attention in Montreal. And when you score 25 times in 31 games as a defenseman, you do not need a long speech to make noise.
The most interesting part is that the Canadiens do not need to rush him. The contract is signed, but its start date is delayed, which aligns perfectly with the development timeline they were aiming for.
That said, will he come and finish the season with the Laval Rocket?
That is a real possibility.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics