The Montreal Canadiens have officially signed forwards Jared Davidson and Hunter McKown to one-year, two-way contracts, the club announced. Both players are expected to bolster the organization’s depth, with primary assignments slated for the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
Jared Davidson, 24, enters the new season following a 2025-26 campaign where he appeared in 10 games for Montreal, recording one assist. The Edmonton native spent the majority of his time in the AHL, contributing 23 points (16 goals, 7 assists) in 53 regular-season games for Laval. Originally selected by Montreal in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, the forward is recognized for his physical play and defensive work ethic.
Hunter McKown, 23, joins the Canadiens organization after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a June trade that sent Luke Tuch to Columbus. The undrafted center recorded 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) in 63 games for the Cleveland Monsters last season. While McKown previously logged 12 NHL games during the 2022-23 season with Columbus, he is looking to secure a more consistent professional role as he continues his development in the AHL.
With these signings, the Canadiens have reduced their list of unsigned players to four, including NHL skaters Zachary Bolduc and Arber Xhekaj. The team continues to manage its roster depth as it prepares for the upcoming training camp.