The Montreal Canadiens have announced the signings of two forwards, Jared Davidson and Hunter McKown, to one-year, two-way contracts, according to the team’s website.
Davidson, the 24-year-old, earned ten games with the Canadiens, logging an assist in 2025-26 after a strong start to his season in the minor leagues. The majority of his season was spent in Laval with the Rockets, Montreal’s affiliate in the AHL, where he registered 16 goals for 25 points in 53 games. The Edmonton native was originally a fifth-round pick selected at 130th overall in 2022 and was a member of the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, where he won a WHL championship in 2023 before his first contract with the Habs.
He’s considered to be a hard-working, physical forward who has improved his skating, which could help him further carve out a bottom-six NHL role if the opportunity presents in Montreal.
McKown, the 23-year-old, was a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets organization last year but has not seen NHL time since the 2022-23 season, when he was 20, where he logged 2 assists in 12 games. McKown has been with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, where he scored 25 points last season in 63 games played. The San Jose native will play on his third NHL contract, with his last deal paying him $800K in 2025-26 and before that, a three-year, entry-level contract making $950K annually.
McKown was undrafted out of Colorado College in the NCAA.
He is known as a player who can play strong defensively as a center, as a formidable in-zone presence, helping his defense and wingers be able to break out in transition.