Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens breaks away from Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators and scores during the NHL game at Canadian Tire Centre on October 11, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images
Tomas Plekanec wanted to extend his window to win a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens, and the club made sure he'd get that chance.
The Canadiens signed Plekanec on Friday to a US$12-million, two-year extension that keeps him under contract through the 2017-18 season.
Plekanec is an alternate captain and key piece of Montreal's core, which includes MVP goaltender Carey Price, captain Max Pacioretty and top defenceman P.K. Subban.
The durable centre, who turns 33 at the end of October, will count $6 million each of the next two seasons, making $7 million in 2016-17 and $5 million the next year.
Plekanec played all 82 regular-season games last year, putting up 26 goals and 34 assists and then six points in 12 playoff games as the Habs reached the second round.
In 766 career regular-season games, Plekanec has 206 goals and 297 assists, and in 80 playoff games he has 15 goals and 31 assists.
There is no type of no-trade protection in the new deal, which expires at the same time as Price's.