On Monday, the Montreal Canadiens swiftly addressed one of their key offseason priorities by securing a lengthy contract extension for star forward Cole Caufield, locking him in for eight years at an annual salary of $7.85 million.
At just 22 years old, Caufield emerged from his entry-level contract and made an impressive mark during the 2022-23 season, scoring 26 goals across 46 games before a shoulder injury prematurely concluded his campaign.
These kinds of longer contracts for players after their initial rookie deals have become increasingly prevalent in the NHL, which is something that bettors need to keep in mind when evaluating contracts.Ontario sportsbooks This marks a shift from the trend of a few years ago, where shorter bridge contracts, typically spanning two to three years, were the norm.
Significant Upfront Payments May Turn Into Bargains Down the Line
This contract is expected to be perceived as a high cost initially, but it holds the potential to evolve into an incredible value in its later years. Last off-season, Montreal secured captain Nick Suzuki with a comparably structured contract, meaning they now have two essential young players under contract for the foreseeable future. Similarly, St. Louis did the same, choosing to invest in talented forwards Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou with long-term agreements rather than opting for short-term, less expensive contracts.
With Caufield's salary now established,OntarioBets – the home for analysis ofOntario sports betting apps an analysis was conducted on other players within his salary range to see how Caufield holds up. The rankings of these players are based on point shares during the 2022-23 season, as per statistics from HockeyReference.com and Spotrac.com.
Caufield Benchmarked Against Players With Comparable Contracts
Jason Robertson and Jack Hughes are two notable players from this salary tier. With +20000 odds for Montreal at
to win the Stanley Cup in 2024, the Canadiens will be looking for Caufield to elevate his game in a similar manner.Caesars Sportsbook Ontario Having signed a bridge contract with the Stars, Robertson is certain to be in a position for a significant raise in the years to come. Hughes entered into a deal similar to Caufield's but is now regarded as a major asset for the Devils.
While Caufield hasn't yet reached the stature of these players and brings a different style to the ice, the level of performance they display is what the Canadiens would dream to see from him over the duration of this contract. Kuznetsov’s performance is declining, and this season, Caufield is anticipated to outshine him significantly. Though Svechnikov and Fiala are slightly older, their scoring outputs are comparable to Caufield's, especially in the case of Svechnikov.
During the past season, Svechnikov netted fewer goals for Carolina than Caufield managed for Montreal, despite playing in more games. Both players are expected to improve even further in 2024.
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Suzuki is likely the most comparable player on this list regarding age and performance level. Should both he and Caufield continue their growth trajectories, these contracts will look advantageous for Montreal.
The Canadiens are counting on these two to help them return to the heights of their Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2021, where they were defeated in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In this year's finals, Vegas currently leads Florida 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. The Golden Knights have -500 odds at
to secure their first championship title, while the Panthers hold +400 odds to win four out of the next five matches and turn the tide in the series.BetMGM Sportsbook Ontario Caufield displayed immense potential under the guidance of new coach Martin St. Louis last season, showcasing his capability to score 50 goals in a season.
His performance pace last year projected him to finish with 46 goals over an 82-game season. Scoring is his primary role within the squad, and he consistently executes it with high effectiveness.NHL Given that the salary cap is expected to rise significantly in the next few years, along with anticipated performance improvements, Caufield's contract could turn into an extraordinary value in three years or less. As Montreal is still early in its rebuild phase, it is possible for the team to afford a slightly elevated salary now, making this agreement optimal for both future financial flexibility and for Caufield to secure his earnings early in his career.
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