Alexandre Texier: Contract Termination, Salary & Canadiens Move

Few NHL careers take a detour quite like this one. Alexandre Texier went from a promising start with the Columbus Blue Jackets to a contract termination with the St. Louis Blues in December 2024, and within days landed with the Montreal Canadiens. Here’s how the sequence unfolded, what drove the breakup, and what lies ahead for the 25-year-old French forward.

Nationality: French ·
NHL Draft: 2017, Round 2, Pick 45 by Columbus Blue Jackets ·
Current Team: Montreal Canadiens ·
Position: Forward ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)

The table below compiles Texier’s biographical and contractual snapshot in one place.

What happened to Alex Texier?

Texier’s NHL journey took a sharp turn in early December 2024. The St. Louis Blues, who had acquired him from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick (contract data from PuckPedia), placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination on December 6 (reporting from TSN). He cleared waivers the next day, becoming an unrestricted free agent, and within hours the Montreal Canadiens signed him to a one-year contract worth $1 million for the remainder of the 2025-26 season (report from The Athletic).

Contract termination by the St. Louis Blues

• The Blues officially terminated the contract on December 6, 2024, via a statement from President of Hockey Operations Doug Armstrong (official announcement from NHL.com/Blues).
• Reports indicate that Texier refused an assignment to the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, which triggered the unconditional waiver process (reporting from The Hockey News).
• At the time of the termination, Texier had one assist in eight games for the Blues (reporting from The Hockey News).

Waiver claim by the Montreal Canadiens

• After clearing waivers, Texier became an unrestricted free agent on December 7 (reporting from Sportsnet).
• The Montreal Canadiens signed him to a one-year, $1 million deal covering the remainder of the 2025-26 season (report from The Athletic).
• TSN reported that nine teams expressed interest in Texier, with his agent narrowing the choice to two finalists (reporting from TSN).

Current status and performance

Texier is now with the Canadiens, where he is expected to play out the rest of his contract. His performance in Montreal will determine whether the team offers him an extension or lets him test free agency again. The Canadiens had close to $4 million in cap space after the signing, so the move carries minimal financial risk (report from CityNews Montreal).

Why did the Blues terminate Texier’s contract?

The Blues’ official statement cited no specific reason, only that the contract was terminated by the club. However, reporting from multiple outlets points to a combination of personal reasons and a refusal to report to the AHL.

Reasons behind the termination

• According to reporting from The Hockey News, Texier refused an assignment to the Springfield Thunderbirds, which led the Blues to place him on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract.
• Multiple sources indicate the termination was for personal reasons, though no specifics were publicly disclosed (reporting from TSN).
• The Athletic characterized the decision as Texier stepping away from the final year of his Blues agreement to seek new NHL opportunities (report from The Athletic).

Contractual context and mutual consent

Texier had signed a two-year extension with the Blues in June 2024, with a cap hit of $2.1 million per season (contract data from PuckPedia). The termination effectively ended that deal early. By placing him on unconditional waivers, the Blues allowed Texier to become a free agent, a move that suggests mutual consent or at least a negotiated exit.

Impact on salary cap

The termination removed Texier’s $2.1 million cap hit from the Blues’ books entirely (reporting from The Hockey News). For Montreal, his pro-rated cap hit is $787,500 for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, leaving the team with roughly $4 million in cap space (report from CityNews Montreal).

What is Alexandre Texier’s salary and contract status?

Texier’s contract history is a tale of two very different deals, as the table below shows.

Two contracts, one key difference: his AAV dropped from $2.1 million to $1 million, but his cap hit is even lower because of the late-season signing.

Current contract with Montreal Canadiens

• Signed on December 7, 2024, for the remainder of the 2025-26 season (report from The Athletic).
• Reported value: $1 million (report from The Athletic).
• Cap hit: $787,500 pro-rated (contract data from PuckPedia).

Salary and cap hit through 2026

Texier’s cap hit for the remainder of the 2025-26 season is $787,500, a bargain for a player who once scored 12 goals in a season for Columbus. The Canadiens retain the flexibility to let him walk or re-sign him after the season.

Comparison with his previous contract

His previous deal with the Blues carried a $2.1 million AAV, which was average for a middle-six forward. The termination effectively cut his salary by more than half, but it also gave him a chance to reset his career in a new market.

How tall is Alexandre Texier and other physical stats?

Texier’s build is typical for a modern NHL forward — not oversized, but agile with good reach. Here’s a look at his physical measurements and how they compare to league averages.

Six measurements, one pattern: Texier’s frame is slightly below the NHL average for forwards, but his skating compensates.

Height and weight

• Texier is listed at 6’0″ (183 cm) and 194 lbs (88 kg) (contract data from PuckPedia).
• His weight is near the league average for forwards, but his height is slightly below.

Playing style based on build

Texier is known for his quickness and puck skills rather than physical dominance. His lower center of gravity helps him protect the puck in tight spaces, but he’s not a player who wins battles in the corners through sheer size.

Comparison to league averages

At 6’0″ and 194 lbs, Texier is about an inch shorter and 6 lbs lighter than the average NHL forward. That’s a small gap, but it means he relies more on speed and intelligence than brute force. The Canadiens will likely use him on the wing, where his agility can be an asset.

The catch: his physical profile demands he excel at speed and puck protection to carve out a consistent NHL role.

For the Montreal Canadiens, the gamble on Texier is a low-cost bet on a player who once showed top-six potential. If he rediscovers his form, they gain a valuable middle-six forward; if not, they walk away with no cap penalty. For Texier, the path is clear: prove he belongs, or risk another career detour.