Cole Caufield and Canadiens have started to negotiate an extension
Montreal Canadiens are getting closer to locking in their prodigal goal scorer.
TSN’s “Insider Trading”, Tuesday’s edition, featured Darren Dreger announcing that the Canadiens are in negotiations to extend their contract with Cole Caufield, star forward.
Dreger explained that “my understanding is that the preliminary discussions of an extension between Cole Caufield’s agent, Pat Brisson (and the Montreal Canadiens) started approximately a month back.”
Caufield is currently in the final season of the three-year, entry level contract he signed in February 2021. He had previously played for the University of Wisconsin between 2019 and 2021. The 22-year-old has scored 26 goals and 36 assists in 44 games this season.
After Martin St. Louis, the Hall-of-Fame took over the Canadiens bench mid-season last year, Caufield scored 48 goals in 81 games. Dominique Ducharme had previously coached the winger to just one goal in 30 games.
After the Minnesota Wild forward, talk about Caufield’s upcoming extension has picked up Matt Boldy signed a seven-year, $49-million ($7 million AAV) Extension on Monday The 21-year old has scored 27 goals and 68 assists in 89 NHL games and was chosen three picks prior to Caufield in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Montreal signed captain Nick Suzuki — Caufield’s linemate — to an eight-year, $63-million ($7.875-million AAV) contract extension in October 2021, and some expect a proven scorer like Caufield to potentially earn more on a yearly basis if he’s able to reach an agreement with the Habs.
General manager Kent Hughes is set to have over $11-million in cap space to work with next offseason, with a number of significant contracts — including those of Jonathan Drouin and Evgeni Dadonov — coming off the books. Montreal will be a seller at trade deadline, which would allow for even greater financial flexibility in the future.
With a record of 18-23-3, the Canadiens are currently dead last in Atlantic Division.
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