Canadiens sign defensemen Rivers, Degon

The Montreal Canadiens, parent club of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, have signed defensemen Jamie Rivers and Marvin Degon to one-year contracts.

Degon, 24, completed his first professional season in 2006-07 with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. He led the team’s defensemen in scoring with 34 points (8g, 26a) in 71 games.

Degon also appeared in 14 regular-season games and 13 playoff contests with Hartford in 2005-06 following his senior season at the University of Massachusetts.

Rivers, 32, spent the 2006-07 season in the St. Louis Blues organization, recording one goal and three assists in 31 NHL games with St. Louis and four goals and 19 assists in 30 AHL games with the Peoria Rivermen.

The Ottawa native has appeared in 454 career NHL games, collecting 66 points (17g, 49a) and 385 penalty minutes. In 270 career AHL games, Rivers has notched 32 goals and 131 assists for 163 points and 355 penalty minutes.

Rivers was a Second Team AHL All-Star in 1997-98, and played in the AHL All-Star Game in 1996 and 1997.