Forward Zachary Bolduc signed a four-year, $16.8 million contract to return to the Montreal Canadiens, the team announced on Sunday.
The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent as of July 1 after his first season with the Canadiens. His new deal has an average annual value of $4.2 million through the 2029-30 season.
Bolduc had 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists), a minus-6 rating, 28 penalty minutes and 43 blocks in 78 regular-season games. His 170 hits ranked second on the Canadiens behind defenseman Arber Xhekaj (178).
Bolduc added seven points (three goals, four assists), a minus-3 rating and 22 penalty minutes in 19 playoff games last season.
For his career, Bolduc has 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists), a plus-14 rating, 71 penalty minutes, 91 blocks and 290 hits in 175 regular-season games with the St. Louis Blues (2023-25) and Canadiens.
He has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 26 career postseason games.
St. Louis selected Bolduc in the first round (17th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. The Blues traded him to the Canadiens for defenseman Logan Mailloux on July 1, 2025.