Analyzing the details of Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield's new eight-year contract extension.
One of the biggest items on Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes' summer to-do list already has a check mark next to it, and a big check to go along with it. Forward Cole Caufield inked a remarkable eight-year contract extension on June 5, valued at over $62 million. That's a substantial paycheck for the 22-year-old winger, and an indication that both Caufield and the Canadiens placed a priority on term in negotiations.
Speculation by fans and media in the weeks and months leading up to the deal raised the question of whether the Habs would offer their first-liner a bridge deal with a higher average annual value (AAV). Whether or not that was actually on the table is unknown, and Caufield accepted a lengthier deal which runs through the 2030-31 season. His AAV of $7.85 million falls just slightly below captain Nick Suzuki.
According to CapFriendly, it's a similar deal to players like Jordan Kyrou (STL), Matthew Boldy (MIN), and Brady Tkachuk (OTT).
So how does the contract break down? Caufield gets a heap of money in annual salary and signing bonuses on the front end of the deal, a substantial increase in annual salary in the middle of the contract, and protection in the form of a modified no-trade clause during the final three years.
Overall, I believe this is a very good contract signing both for the player and the organization. Caufield was on a blistering pace to begin the 2022-23 season, scoring 26 goals with 10 assists in 46 games played before his season ended due to shoulder surgery. With the hopes that he can play a full season next year, all eyes will be on Caufield to see if he can pick up where he left off and continue to grow with the young core around him, particularly knowing that he's a key piece of the rebuild moving forward.
Back in early March, I made a public prediction of what I thought Caufield's extension would look like. Happily, I was right on the mark with the term and not too far off on the dollar amount!
You can watch the full prediction reveal and reaction by clicking HERE to watch my Habs Hockey Report video on YouTube.