It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens think they have the next NHL star on their team in winger Cole Caufield. On Monday, they double down on this belief by inking the 22-year-old player to an eight-year, $63 million contract.
Caufield’s new deal will now tie him to the organization through the 2030-31 NHL season. He is now the third highest-paid Canadiens player in terms of annual salary, with $7.85 million per season.
Caufield earned his new deal with a stellar first part of the 2022-23 NHL season in which he scored 26 goals in 46 games. He then didn’t play at all since January due to shoulder surgery but still ended up being tied for most goals scored among all Canadiens players.
The structure and the value of the contract should be considered a win-win for both the player and the franchise. Caufield received a deal that is usually reserved for much more accomplished and proven players, considering he only has 123 NHL games under his belt.
Canadiens, on the other hand, are probably overpaying at the start of the contract, but if Caufield develops the way they project, the contract will be a bargain later on.
Cole Caufield was the Canadiens’ 15th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his three seasons as a pro, he has 53 goals and 31 assists for a total of 84 points.
