Canadiens Sign Saku Koivu

Saku Koivu agreed to a two-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.

Terms were not disclosed, but Koivu is believed to be in line for about $3 million a year.

Koivu, 23, is scheduled to arrive at training camp Friday from his home in Turku, Finland.

The 5-foot-9 center's new deal also includes a third year as a team option.

Koivu earned $750,000 last season, when he completed the last year of a three-year contract. He became a restricted free agent last July 1.

"Saku is our franchise player, our player of the future," said Canadiens general manager Rejean Houle. "He's one of our top three players, but he has to produce like he did two years ago -- that is at least one point a game."

Two years ago, Koivu was one of the NHL's top scorers when he injured a knee.

He scored only 14 goals in the 1997-98 season when he was sidelined by a groin injury before and after the Winter Olympics, where he helped Finland beat Canada in the bronze-medal game.

Don Baizley of Winnipeg represented Koivu in contract talks with Houle.

"Both sides decided we wanted to get something done," Houle said. "We bridged the gap by talking, and talking again."

The signing left the Canadiens with three restricted free agents -- Martin Rucinsky, Brian Savage and Vladimir Malakhov -- still absent from camp. Forward Shayne Corson is a camp holdout while seeking an extension to the two years remaining on his five-year contract.

"There's no priority for us among the players who are left," Houle said. "We're still working on them."

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