The Hamilton Bulldogs have made, perhaps, their biggest free agent signing ever.

The Dogs have inked centre Eric Manlow to an American Hockey League contract.

Manlow, 31, is a veteran of pro hockey and last year had 25 goals and 48 assists with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

"I think this is great," said Bulldogs coach Don Lever. "We're getting a real solid player, a leader, something that we need who will really help the young guys.

"Offensively, we struggled last year and we're getting a 70-point guy with solid leadership."

The 6-foot, 205-pound, left-shot centre is a Belleville native. He's played 37 games in the National Hockey League from 2001-2004 with Boston and the New York Islanders.

He has a lengthy American Hockey League career with Baltimore, Providence, Bridgeport and the last two seasons with Grand Rapids.

Last year he finished 18th in the league in scoring and helped the Griffins finish first overall.

In the playoffs, he scored three goals and added three assists in 16 games as the Griffins advanced to the Western Conference final before losing to Milwaukee.

"I'm pretty excited about it," said Lever, whose Bulldogs finished sixth in the North Division last season and missed the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.

Bulldogs majority owner Michael Andlauer had said following last season that he wanted the right to sign and pay for two players for the upcoming year. He struck that deal with the parent Montreal Canadiens who provide all the players for the Bulldogs.

Manlow is one of those two.

The length of the contract was not released.