MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens have hired Luke Richardson as an assistant coach.

The Ottawa native spent last season as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders.

Richardson, a former NHL defenceman, will work with Canadiens blueliners on head coach Claude Julien's staff.

"I'm delighted with the addition of Luke Richardson to our coaching staff," Julien said. "Luke is a very credible hockey person and a very knowledgeable coach. We undertook a process to select a coach with specific criteria in mind, and after taking the time to meet with several candidates, we're very happy that Luke accepted to join our group. He has already been told that his role on our staff will be to work with our defencemen."

The 49-year-old guided Team Canada to gold at the Spengler Cup in the 2016-17 season.

Previously, Richardson served as head coach for the AHL's Binghamton Senators from 2012-16. He was an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators from 2008-12.

He spent 21 seasons in the NHL as a player, posting 35 goals and 201 points in 1,417 games.

"We're very pleased with the hiring of Luke Richardson as an assistant coach," general manager Marc Bergevin said in a release. "Luke has tremendous experience, both as a player in the NHL and as a coach. He also had the opportunity to work internationally with Hockey Canada, which gives him excellent credibility among young players. We're very happy that he has joined the Canadiens organization."

Earlier this off-season, the Canadiens hired Dominique Ducharme from the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs as an assistant coach. Other coaches on the staff associate coach Kirk Muller, goaltending coach Stephane Waite and video coach Mario Leblanc.