Why the Canadiens' Bryce Pickford signing comes with an important delay

Wednesday morning in Brossard, Kent Hughes announced a three-year entry-level contract for the 19-year-old defenseman.

The timeline is clear, the deal will cover the 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 seasons. That's the detail everyone was waiting for.

The contract does not activate in 2025-2026; it only begins next season. For the Canadiens, this is a way to secure the player without burning a year immediately.

See the official announcement here:

If this signing is making so much noise, it's because of his numbers in the Western Hockey League.

In 31 games this season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Pickford already has 25 goals and 19 assists. His 25 goals lead the WHL, and his 44 points place him fourth in the league.

He doesn't just produce, he also wears a "C" on his jersey. Pickford is his team's captain, and he is just three points away from matching his career high of 47 points, set last year in 48 games.

At 19 years old, that's a pace that forces everyone to take notice.

His junior resume is also filled with championship rings. Pickford has won the Ed Chynoweth Cup twice, in 2022-2023 with the Seattle Thunderbirds and in 2024-2025 with the Tigers. That's not a small detail when you're talking about a third-round defenseman.

The Canadiens selected him 81st overall in the 2025 draft, and his current production only makes that pick look even better on paper.

The next step is simple, but exciting. The contract will begin in 2026-2027, and Montreal will have a new official card to play.

Put it this way: it's not just a signing, it's a signal.