The Anaheim Ducks announced on Wednesday that the club has signed long-time Montreal Canadiens captain and free agent forward Saku Koivu to a one-year contract.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Montreal Gazette reported the deal is worth $3.25 million.
"I'm very excited to join the Ducks this coming season," Koivu said in a conference call. "I'm looking forward to a full season with Teemu Selanne as a teammate.
The 34-year-old posted 16 goals and 50 points in 65 games in 2008-09, his lowest point total since 2001.
Koivu departs the Canadiens, the only NHL club he's known, after 792 regular- season games since the 1995-96 season.
The native of Turku, Finland was the Habs' 21st-overall pick in the 1993 draft, and rose to become the first European captain of the club, named so prior to the 1999-2000 season. He held the post until the end of last season, the second-longest serving captain in franchise history next to Hall of Fame forward Jean Beliveau.
Over 13 seasons, he's racked up 191 goals and 641 points, adding 16 goals and 48 points in 54 playoff contests.
He will join countryman Selanne, who recently signed with the Ducks for another season, trying to provide Anaheim some magic which the two conjured up when Finland captured the Silver Medal in 2006 at Torino.
"Coming from Montreal to sunny beautiful California is going to be different," added Koivu. "It's been nothing but hockey in Montreal for the last 14 years. I'm fairly confident I'm going to like that."
Koivu was named the Bill Masterton Trophy winner in 2002, after courageously battling against lymphoma, and also took home the 2007 King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his dedicated work with cancer patients in the Montreal area.
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