The Montreal Canadiens have signed an impact forward, albeit one who provides a different kind of impact, inking noted enforcer Georges Laraque to a three-year contract believed worth $1.5 million per season, a modest raise over the $1.3 million per season he earned last season.

Laraque, a native of Montreal, has spent most of his career with the Edmonton Oilers and after spending the last two season split between Phoenix and Pittsburgh was believed considering heading back to Edmonton.

Considering Laraque’s comments earlier in his career against playing in Montreal due to the intense pressure French-Canadiens face with the Habs it’s a little surprising that he’s changed his mind, although the length of the deal likely had something to do with it.

Laraque’s presence will be a welcome one for a Canadiens team deep in talent but thin on grit, and will take much of the load off shut-down defenseman Mike Komisarek who’s had to do more than his fair share of the Habs enforcement duties.