Chiarot signs with Montreal, becomes Jets’ D-parture No. 3

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This article was published 04/07/2019 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets watched another defenceman bolt to a new team Thursday when Ben Chiarot signed a three-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens.

The US$10.5-million deal has an annual salary cap hit of US$3.5 million, more than the cash-strapped Jets were willing to pay the 6-3, 220-pound unrestricted free agent.

Chiarot played parts of five seasons in Winnipeg, setting career marks in goals (five), points (20) and games played (78) during the 2018-19 campaign when he was often partnered with Dustin Byfuglien on the Jets’ second defensive unit.

In 305 career NHL games, he has 12 goals and 52 assists.

“(Chiarot) is a very reliable defenceman and a solid player who will fill a need for our club,” Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said in a statement to The Canadian Press.

“He is the type of player who can play some big minutes and be used in different situations. We are convinced he will improve our defensive group.”

The Jets also lost blue-liner Tyler Myers to the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, the first day of free agency, while the generally unhappy Jacob Trouba was finally dealt to the New York Rangers last month.

Drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the fourth round (120th overall) in 2009, Chiarot turned a steady junior career in the Ontario Hockey League into employment in the Thrashers/Jets organization. He played big minutes with the St. John’s Icecaps, Winnipeg’s then-American Hockey League affiliate, for three-plus seasons before being called up to the big club due to injuries in 2015.

The 28-year-old from Hamilton, a left-shot blue-liner, played a rugged style and kept things simple in his own end, which made him a good fit for the impetuous Byfuglien under Jets head coach Paul Maurice. He was blessed with a rocket of a slapshot, although it wasn’t unleashed with any regularity.

Those remaining on the left side include Josh Morrissey, Nathan Beaulieu, Dmitry Kulikov, Sami Niku — who played the right side when he was up with the Jets — and Anthony Bitetto. Beaulieu was re-signed by the Jets on Monday, while Bitetto was inked to a contract Tuesday. Both were unrestricted free agents.

Byfuglien and Neal Pionk, obtained in the trade that sent Trouba to the Rangers, are right-shooting rear-guards. Pionk is a restricted free agent who needs a new contract.

Winnipeg still has pricey scoring forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, both restricted free agents, to sign to new deals, along with Andrew Copp.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell