yardbarker
I can confirm this now.
Reilly Walsh will sign with #GoHabsGoNot certain on terms yet, but look for a one-year, two-way deal.
https://t.co/ijXxUrioU0 Jeremy Garrett HNH (@HockeyNewsHub) July 6, 2026 The original report actually came from player agent Jeremy Garrett on Twitter/X, who claimed that Walsh terminated his one-year contract in the KHL with Barys Astana to join the Canadiens.
There has yet to be any confirmation from the Canadiens, but Garrett believes it will be a one-year, two-way deal.
Walsh is a 27-year old American defenseman, who is 60 and 185 LBS.
This past season with Barys Astana of the KHL, Walsh recorded a solid 16 goals and 46 points in 68 games, tied for the most points on his team.
While Barys was one of the worst teams in the KHL, it allowed Walsh to gain attention from NHL teams again after having spent the previous five years mainly in the AHL.
Walsh was a New Jersey Devils third-round pick back in 2017.
He spent three years at Harvard University, where he proved to be a solid offensive defenseman before turning pro with the Devils in 2020.
The American defenseman spent almost his entire entry-level contract in the AHL.
However, Walsh got to play a single NHL game on April 22nd, 2022, where he recorded his first NHL assist against the Ottawa Senators.
Following his entry-level contract, Walsh was traded to the Boston Bruins, where he spent the 2023-24 season with their AHL affiliate in Providence.
He then signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings, playing exclusively with the Ontario Reign during the 2024-25 campaign.
Reilly Walsh reminded everyone, why he is Barys' points leader (40 PTS in 61 GP).
He's a defenseman, btw.
pic.twitter.com/d4MvRYSTbR KHL (@khl_eng) February 28, 2026 Walsh is likely going to be an offensive-minded defenseman who could work well as a power play quarterback for the Laval Rocket.
If there are any injuries to key defensemen on the Canadiens roster, he could get a chance to return to the NHL.
Although like his previous pro contracts in North America, it is more likely that he spends the entire year in the AHL once again.
Either way, the Canadiens seemed to have added much-needed organizational depth to the right side of their defence.
More must-reads:.