Francis Bouillon signs on for extra year

Montreal Canadiens' Francis Bouillon, left, celebrate with teammate P.K. Subban (76) after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

MONTREAL - Frank the Tank will have more money in the bank.

Francis Bouillon, 37, has inked a one-year $1.5 million extension with the Montreal Canadiens to defer what some had speculated might be his last season in the NHL.

The tank-like 5’8” warrior, who made the NHL after going undrafted and spending time in the East Coast Hockey League, has been a pleasant surprise upon his return to the Canadiens who now boast the fourth-best defence in the Eastern Conference after struggling last season.

Bouillon, who first played on the Habs in 1999, has one goal and six assists in 29 games for the Canadiens this season and is a plus six.

Bouillon returned this season after spending three seasons with the Nashville Predators, having played 191 of his 705 NHL games in Tennessee.

Bouillon, whose father is of Haitian origin, was born in New York and moved to Quebec as a child.

Bouillon has had a long association with Habs’ Coach Michel Therrien, playing for him as a member of the 1996-Memorial Cup-winning Granby Predateurs, the Habs’ farm club in Fredericton and then again on the Canadiens for parts of 2000-2003.

A community arena in South Central Montreal was recently renamed after the soft-spoken, hard-hitting defenceman.