The Montreal Canadiens scooped up free-agent defenseman Sami Niku on a one-year, two-way deal Friday after the Winnipeg Jets placed him on unconditional waivers earlier this week for the purpose of terminating his contract.

The pact will pay Niku $750,000 in the NHL and $425,000 at the AHL level with a guaranteed salary of $475,000.

Niku will wear the number vacated by former Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who joined the Carolina Hurricanes in early September after signing an offer sheet with the club in late August.

The decision to end the 24-year-old's time with Winnipeg was reportedly mutual. Niku was named the AHL's defenseman of the year in 2017-18, but he ultimately failed to make an impact with the Jets. He suited up for 54 NHL games over the course of four seasons and registered two goals and eight assists over that span.

The Jets selected him in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.

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