MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens have signed first-round draft pick Chris Higgins to a three-year contract.

Higgins left Yale after two years to enter the NHL.

"It's a dream come true,'' the forward said Thursday. "I've been a fan of the Canadiens all my life. Now to be under contract with them is just an amazing feeling.''

Higgins scored 20 goals and added 21 assists in 28 games last season and shared player of the year honors in the Eastern College Athletic Conference with goalie David LeNeveu of Cornell.

The Canadiens selected Higgins 14th overall last year. Higgins played for the United States at the world junior championship in January and was third in scoring with three goals and three assists.

Higgins will probably start next fall with Hamilton of the AHL.