Michael Cammalleri

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens added another small centre and some experience on defence by signing free agent centre Mike Cammaleri and rearguards Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill on Wednesday.

Cammaleri, who led the Calgary Flames with 39 goals last season, signed a US$30-million five-year contract with the Canadiens.

That move came a day after Montreal acquired five-foot-11 200-pound centre Scott Gomez from New York in a trade that sent winger Chris Higgins to the Rangers.

The moves put a new face on the Canadiens, who had 10 unrestricted free agents of their own out on the market. The signings, including the five years remaining to pay Gomez at a US$7.35-million cap hit per year, are collectively worth US$82.75 million.

Spacek signed a US$11.5-million, three-year deal while Gill, fresh from winning a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, signed for US$4.5 million over two years.

The five-foot-nine 180-pound Cammaleri became a popular figure in Calgary after joining the Flames from the Los Angeles Kings last season. He had 82 points in 81 games, second on the team behind linemate Jarome Iginla.

The 27-year-old, who got a substantial raise from the US$3.6 million he earned last season, has 132 goals and 155 assists in 364 career NHL games.

The 35-year-old Spacek had eight goals and 45 points for the Buffalo Sabres last season, matching a career high for points set while with Columbus in 2002-03.

The five-foot-11 198-pound rearguard spent the past three seasons in Buffalo, where he signed as a free agent in 2006. He earned US$3.3 million last season.

Spacek has 69 goals and 208 assists in 576 career NHL games.

The six-foot-seven Gill, who began his career with Boston in 1997, joined the Penguins this season after two years in Toronto and became part of the club's shutdown defence duo with Rob Scuderi.

"I loved the city and the organization, but we decided to part ways," Gill told TSN. "The timing was right.

"(Montreal) is a great organization. I've always loved to play in that building. It's a new experience to go to Quebec and play and my family's excited about that."

The Canadiens lost veteran defenceman Mike Komisarek as a free agent to the rival Leafs.