Canadiens sign Campoli

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens have signed free-agent defenceman Chris Campoli to a US$1.75-million, one-year contract.

The 27-year-old became a free agent after he failed to agree on a new contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Campoli was traded by the Ottawa Senators to Chicago in February. He had four goals and 17 assists in 77 games last season.

In 397 career NHL games, the Toronto native has 33 goals and 102 assists.

The signing raises questions about the health of top defenceman Andrei Markov, who has had surgery on torn ACL ligaments in the same knee in each of the last two seasons. Markov had a setback in his recovery before training camp and has not played in the pre-season.