Justin Robidas signs contract with Hurricanes at last second

It was one minute to midnight, but Justin Robidas finally got his entry-level contract in the National Hockey League.

The son of Stéphane, who has been the Montreal Canadiens’ defense coach for the past year, has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Interestingly, the Hurricanes had until tomorrow to sign their fifth-round pick in 2021. Lo and behold, they did – at the last second, but still.

In the end, the important thing is that it happened.

One suspects that the wait was born of the fact that the Canes have a good bank of prospects and they had to meticulously choose who gets a contract, but not making him eligible for the draft again was the decision to make there.

Why was that? Because we’re talking about a quality prospect who will serve the Canes’ cause.

Since his arrival in the QMJHL, Robidas has progressed well. In the playoffs, he has been one of the most important players for the Remparts, his club since the holiday season.

The former Foreurs captain would have quickly found a buyer had he been drafted again.

Robidas still has one game left in his junior career, and on Sunday he will play the most important game of his entire junior career: the Memorial Cup Final.

Next year, he should be heading for the AHL. We’ll see how he fares in the pros next year.

In bursts

– Speaking of the AHL and the Canes.

– The Maple Leafs have their man.

– Really?

– Bob Hartley to see Patrick Roy in New York. [BPM Sports]

– 53 years old already?

From three years ago today: for much of his Hall of Fame-bound career, @MartinBrodeur chased the ghost of Terry Sawchuk. Here, Marty remembers that pursuit, with great respect for the goaltending great who died on this May 31 in 1970. https://t.co/OwfBe3PHXp via @NHLdotcom

– Dave Stubbs 🇨🇦 (@Dave_Stubbs) May 31, 2023