THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens added experience on defence by signing veteran rearguards Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill as free agents on Wednesday.

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

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 $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.

The Canadiens expect to lose veteran defenceman Mike Komisarek as a free agent in the coming days.

On Tuesday, they acquired centre Scott Gomez from the New York Rangers for winger Chris Higgins in a seven-player deal also involing prospects.