Few Canadiens fans were surprised when the team chose not to bring back Tanner Pearson after one underwhelming season in Montreal.
But upon signing with the Vegas Golden Knights after a successful PTO at training camp, the veteran forward seems to have found his rhythm again.
Pearson joined Montreal last September in an offseason trade with the Vancouver Canucks for goalie Casey DeSmith. He got off to a strong start, scoring three goals and adding two assists in his first five games. However, his production faded as the 2023-24 season went on, and he finished the year with just five goals and 13 points in 54 games.
When it came time to re-sign him, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes opted to let him test the market as an unrestricted free agent.
Fast-forward to now, and the 32-year-old has already matched his goal total from last year in less than half the games, recording 10 points through 23 appearances in Vegas’ bottom six.
Tanner Pearson scores against his former team for Vegas' 4th goal in just under 6 minutes š¤ÆšØ pic.twitter.com/HoVKhDh4EW
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 24, 2024
Not bad for someone on a one-year deal worth $775,000.
For context, the Canadiens, who find themselves at the bottom of the NHL’s Atlantic Division with an 8-11-3 record, have just three players who have scored more goals than Pearson this season.
The Kitchener nativeās productive pace, which includes two goals in his last two games, has been a pleasant surprise for the Golden Knights. Drafted 30th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2012, the winger is showing flashes of the form that saw him score a career-high 21 goals and 45 points in Vancouver during the 2019-20 season.
His return to form is impressive considering the bizarre injury that derailed most of his 2022-23 campaign with the Canucks. After injuring his hand during a November 2022 game (coincidentally against the Canadiens), what was initially expected to be a four-week recovery turned into a season-ending setback that involved the player undergoing multiple surgeries.
Pearson expressed his frustration at the end of the season, telling reporters: āIām just trying to get my hand back. Iām just trying to go home, be a dad, and be with my kids. So yeah, it sucks.ā
For Vegas, who sit atop the Pacific Division, the low-risk, low-cost signing is already proving its worth. And if Pearson stays healthy, he could become a valuable depth piece as the team looks toward another deep playoff run.