MONTREAL - Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced on Thursday that the team has agreed to terms on a three-year contract (2019-20 to 2021-22) with free agent defenseman Ben Chiarot. The deal has an average annual value of $3.5 million.

"We are very happy to have come to an agreement with Ben Chiarot today. He is a very reliable defenseman and a solid player who will fill a need for our club. He is the type of player who can play some big minutes and be used in different situations," said Bergevin.

The 6'03'', 219 lbs left-handed defenseman registered a career-high 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists), with a +6 differential and 62 penalty minutes in 78 games with the Winnipeg Jets in 2018-19. He ranked second on the Jets with 139 blocked shots and third with 171 hits. Chiarot, 28, posted a +2 differential in six playoff contests.

Chiarot has recorded 64 points (12 goals, 52 assists), 192 penalty minutes and a +16 differential in 305 career regular-season games in the NHL, all with Winnipeg. He has also added three assists, a +3 differential and 17 penalty minutes in 24 career playoff games.

The Hamilton, ON native was selected in the fourth round by the Atlanta Thrashers (120th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft. Chiarot registered 70 points (20-50-70) in 229 OHL games with Guelph, Sudbury and Saginaw from 2007 to 2011.