Cole Caufield signed a good contract (for everyone) with the Habs: https: //t.co/YiWo2Jkta8
Plus, he has no no-movement clause: https: //t.co/3IHk4oQ5c1
What more could you ask for? @DLCoulisses pic.twitter.com/ViMmYjjAaW
– Charles-Alexis Brisebois (@Charles__Alexis) June 5, 2023
Cole Caufield: originally, his clan didn’t want to sign for eight years
Auteur: Manuel Sperandio-Lemay![Cole Caufield: originally, his clan didn’t want to sign for eight years](https://cdn.buminteractif.com/2023/06/Caufield-.jpg)
In my eyes, this is a good thing for the Tricolore. A salary of less than $8 million a year for eight years for a guy who has the potential to score 50 goals a year in the NHL is a bet I’ll take 11 times out of 10.
Add to that the fact that he likes it here in town and is a crowd favorite, and it’s a good deal not only for the CH, but also for the principal interested party, who gets a very nice sum of money.
That said, in reality, there’s a world in which Caufield doesn’t sign for eight years. In fact, at the start of negotiations, Pat Brisson was mainly aiming for a five- or six-year pact, which would have led Caufield to full autonomy more quickly.
That’s what Pierre LeBrun revealed in today’s paper.
Pierre LeBrun on the Cole Caufield contract extension.
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/j0MuSTgRjf
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 7, 2023
For the Tricolore, however, it was imperative that he sign an eight-year contract, especially to avoid a “Matthew Tkachuk” situation. As LeBrun notes, just because Caufield likes it in the city right now doesn’t mean he always will, so in the worst-case scenario, the CH buys itself time and won’t have to trade him in the medium term if he wants to play in the U.S.
And beyond that, it’s a good move on the part of the CH to have signed him at such a high price in the current market. With the salary cap set to rise significantly over the next few years, the value of these guys will increase over time.
Cole Caufield, signed 8x$7.85M by MTL, is a young top-six sniper whose elite 5v5 chance creation and finishing makes up for less impressive passing and defense. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/mzNNPSYFZp
– JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 5, 2023
Obviously, Caufield’s contract involves a certain amount of risk. It’s a very long commitment for a guy who’s only played 123 games in the NHL so far, but considering he was ready to agree to an eight-year deal with the Tricolore, it’s a gamble worth taking.
And that’s even truer when you consider that he’s an American player playing in a Canadian market. Often, you have to overpay to keep these guys, but in the CH’s case, we were able to keep the young forward for the (very) long term, and at a more than reasonable salary.
In bursts
– It’s understandable.
À VOIR | Jean-Sébastien Giguère has mixed memories of the 2003 final🏆🏒https://t.co/IqUIgdlRNA
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) June 8, 2023
– That’s one way of looking at it.
🤕Situation of the @FlaPanthers nfirmary
“This is the only time in your career you’re in the finals. So you’ll be hurting later!” @Rous_ant chats with @LangloisMario ➡️ https://t.co/ombAm7kmJx pic.twitter.com/RIbkddFxsK
– 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) June 8, 2023
– Yvon Pedneault wonders if the Blue Jackets might trade their third overall pick. [BPM Sports]
– Nice read.
NHL Draft | Jordan Tourigny and busy schedules https://t.co/53sM94oBsS
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) June 8, 2023
– Wow.
QMJHL🏒: 25 1st-round picks have been traded for the next 3 drafts!😱@StephRDSJunior looks back on this VERY busy day with @LangloisMario ➡️ https://t.co/ombAm7kmJx pic.twitter.com/SdH7uv9nsq
– 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) June 8, 2023