INSTANT ANALYSIS: CANADIENS BANK ON GROWTH IN SLAFKOVSKY DEAL
The Montreal Canadiens have announced they have signed forward Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year contract extension. The deal will carry an annual average value (AAV) of $7.8 million per season, and will last until 2032-33.
As we suggested prior to the opening of free agency, the priority for the Canadiens on July 1 wouldn’t necessarily be adding new players to the mix, but rather signing cornerstone pieces of their rebuild, such as Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle.
The first reaction from many fans, particularly those outside of Montreal that haven’t watched him grow by leaps and bounds in 2023-24, will be that the Habs have overpaid for a player who has yet to truly establish his identity in the NHL. And while it’s true he won’t necessarily provide excellent value in the first year or so of his deal, but his recent trajectory suggests Slafkovksy is just a few steps away from becoming a mainstay as a top-talent in the league.
The deal comes with a slightly lower AAV than the contract that was offered to Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, maintaining some semblance of structure when it comes to the pecking order in the lineup.
It also establishes Slafkovsky as a member of the core three, alongside Suzuki and Cole Caufield, who also signed a rich extension last summer. Suzuki will be paid $7.87 million per season until 2030, Caufield will receive $7.85 million per season until 2021, and Slafkovsky will earn $7.6 million until 2033.
Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
There’s no doubt this is a significant decision by the team, one that carries the potential to backfire should Slafkovsky fail to ultimately reach his potential. But we have to keep in mind that at 20 years old, Slafkovsky is still one of the youngest players in the league. His trajectory in the last half of the season wasn’t just good, it was bordering on great.
He also provided a stabilizing factor on the top line, as few players managed to create any chemistry while playing alongside Suzuki and Caufield, as it required a certain style of play, not to mention a high dose of talent. His ability to use his frame to his advantage also improved significantly, providing yet another important element to the top line.
Simply put, if your only information regarding Slafkovsky’s time in the NHL involves a cursory glance at Hockeydb, this extension may seem outrageous, but those who followed along every night will have a better understanding of the type of potential Hughes and the Canadiens are banking on now that first-overall pick has signed his contract extension.
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2024-07-01T20:16:26Z dg43tfdfdgfd