Canadiens sign Willsie

The Montreal Canadiens, parent club of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, announced Thursday the signing of forward Brian Willsie to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season.

In 2010-11, Willsie finished second in scoring with the Hershey Bears and 11th overall in the AHL with 68 points (30 goals, 38 assists) in 76 games. He tied for third in the league with a plus-27 rating and tied for fourth with 14 power-play goals. Willsie also appeared in one NHL game with the Capitals, collecting one assist.

Willsie has played 381 career regular season games in the NHL with Colorado, Washington and Los Angeles. He has registered 109 points (52 goals, 57 assists) and 217 penalty minutes.

Since his professional debut in 1998-99, the 6-foot-1, 202-pound forward has appeared in 473 career regular-season games in the AHL, registering 365 points (173 goals, 192 assists) and 308 penalty minutes.

A native of Belmont, Ont., Willsie was drafted in the seventh round by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.