Rem Pitlick denies a big false rumor circulating about him

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Jeff Drouin
August 4, 2022 (3:47 PM)

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Many Canadiens fans were surprised when Kent Hughes signed forward Rem Pitlick to a new two-year contract, just moments after trading Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pitlick, who was a compensated free agent, did not receive a qualifying offer from the Habs before the free agent market opened and was free as a bird as of July 13.

But as my colleague Keven Mawn of Fanadiens.com reports, Pitlick had one thing on his mind and that was to sign a new contract with the Habs.

"The communication channels remained open throughout. Throughout the whole process, my only wish was to come back (to Montreal), and that's what I let my agent know. We let them know our intentions, and I think theirs were mutual. I think from the outside, some people may have had certain ideas, but both parties believed it was going to happen. It was just a matter of figuring out how to make it happen."

"I'm happy with the new contract, very grateful as well. And I'm very excited to be back (...) I feel like I'm exactly where I should be."

Number 32 wanted to sort of put to rest some of the rumors that were circulating that he wanted to leave the Habs. Acquired via waivers from the Minnesota Wild last January, Pitlick did well with the team as he recorded 26 points in 46 games, including 9 goals, and proved to be one of the few surprises within the organization during this 2021-2022 season of misery.

Now that he is under contract for two seasons, it will be interesting to see how head coach Martin St-Louis will use him, as Pitlick can play both center and wing. It's promising!