Canadiens sign Cammaleri, defensemen Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill

Canadiens sign Cammaleri, defensemen Spacek, Gill

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens were busy again Wednesday with the signings of center Mike Cammaleri and defensemen Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill on the first day of free-agent shopping in the NHL.

One day after acquiring star center Scott Gomez from the New York Rangers in a six-player trade, the Canadiens signed Cammaleri to a five-year, $30-million contract, Spacek to a three-year deal worth $11.5-million, and Gill — fresh off a Stanley Cup title with the Pittsburgh Penguins — for two years and $4.5 million.

The moves put a new face on the Canadiens, who had 10 unrestricted free agents of their own on the market. The signings, including the five years remaining to pay Gomez at a $7.35-million cap hit per year, are collectively worth $82.75 million.

Cammaleri, who led the Flames with 39 goals last season, became a popular player in Calgary after being acquired from the Los Angeles Kings last season. He had 82 points in 81 games, second on the team behind linemate Jarome Iginla.

He is getting a substantial raise from the $3.6 million he earned last season. In 364 career NHL games, the 27-year-old Cammaleri has 132 goals and 155 assists.

Spacek, 35, had eight goals and 45 points for the Buffalo Sabres last season, matching a career high for points set with Columbus during the 2002-03 season. He spent the past three seasons in Buffalo, where he signed as a free agent in 2006. He earned $3.3 million last season.

Spacek has 69 goals and 208 assists in 576 career NHL games.

The 6-foot-7 Gill, who began his career with Boston in 1997, joined the Penguins last season after being traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs and became part of Pittsburgh’s shutdown defensive pairing with fellow free agent Rob Scuderi.

“I loved the city and the organization, but we decided to part ways,” Gill told TSN. “The timing was right.

“(Montreal) is a great organization. I’ve always loved to play in that building. It’s a new experience to go to Quebec and play, and my family is excited about that.”

The Canadiens lost veteran defenseman Mike Komisarek as a free agent to the rival Maple Leafs.