=== Canadiens re-sign Koivu for two years === Montreal, QC (My Sportsbook) - The Montreal Canadiens and team captain Saku Koivu agreed to a two-year contract on Friday, locking up the team's leading scorer through the 2004-05 season. "We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Saku for the next two years," said Canadiens' general manager Bob Gainey said. "Saku is extremely committed to the success of the Montreal Canadiens' organization. He showed a great deal of perseverance and leadership since joining the Canadiens eight years ago. All our players are now under contract for next season, and we can now concentrate on the opening of training camp." The 28-year-old forward led the team in scoring in 2002-03 with 71 points (21 goals, 50 assists) in 82 games. Koivu also paced the Canadiens with five game- winning goals. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound forward will begin his ninth season with the Canadiens in 2003-04. In 429 NHL regular season games, he has scored 106 goals with 237 assists. Koivu was named the recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey in 2001-02, after making a remarkable comeback from a battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer. |
