The Montreal Canadiens and superstar sniper Cole Caufield have agreed to a long-term contract extension.
The eight-year deal, which begins next season, is worth $62.8 million and carries an average annual value of $7.85 million.
Caufield had 26 goals and 36 points in just 46 games last season before having shoulder surgery. He has 53 goals and 84 points in 123 NHL games.
Caufield said on Monday that he was medically cleared 10 days ago and will spend the summer preparing to be a full participant in training camp.
The 22-year-old Caufield was a first-round pick, taken 15th overall by the Canadiens in 2019. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 2020-21 as the top U.S. men's college player while playing for the University of Wisconsin and turned pro later that season. Since making the jump to the NHL, only the New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes has more goals from the 2019 NHL Draft class.
The deal means Montreal's two cornerstone stars are locked up long-term. Last summer, the Canadiens and captain Nick Suzuki came to terms on an eight-year, $63 million contract that began last season.
Signing Caufield was the most significant piece of business the Canadiens needed to get done this summer. Now general manager Kent Hughes and president Jeff Gorton will look to build around a young core that also includes Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle and the fifth-overall pick in this month's 2023 NHL Draft.
mtl
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.