The Colorado Avalanche, parent club of the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters, announced Friday that the team has signed goaltender Cedrick Desjardins and forward Evan Brophey each to a one-year contract for the 2011-12 season.
In addition, the Avalanche formally announced that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman David Liffiton, along with forwards Greg Mauldin, Justin Mercier, Ryan Stoa and David van der Gulik each to one-year contracts.
Desjardins, 25, made his NHL debut in 2010-11, appearing in two games for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He won both of his starts, allowing just one goal in each game (1.00 goals-against average, .968 save percentage).
The Edmundston, N.B., native spent most of the year with Tampa Bay’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, where he posted a 15-6-1 record with a 2.59 GAA and .905 save percentage in 24 appearances.
Originally signed by Montreal, Desjardins was named to the 2009-10 AHL Second All-Star Team after going 29-9-4 and leading the league with a 2.00 GAA in 47 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs. He also appeared in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2010. In 116 career AHL appearances, Desjardins has a record of 64-33-6 with 11 shutouts.
In 2007-08, Desjardins led the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones to the Kelly Cup title, and was named ECHL playoff MVP. He also won a Memorial Cup with Quebec (QMJHL) in 2006, earning the Hap Emms Trophy as the tournament’s most valuable goaltender.
Brophey, 24, also made his NHL debut in 2010-11, playing one game for the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 23 against Columbus. He spent most of the year with the Rockford IceHogs (AHL), collecting 19 points (10g, 9a) and 65 penalty minutes in 67 games.
Chicago’s third-round selection (68th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft, the Kitchener, Ont., native has spent the last four seasons with Rockford, registering 44 goals and 64 assists for 108 points in 299 regular-season games.
