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.
The 22-year-old Caufield was a first-round pick, 15th overall, by the Canadiens in 2019. He won the Hobey Baker Award in 2020-21 while playing for the University of Wisconsin and turned pro later that season. Since making the jump to the NHL, only 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.
