The Juraj Slafkovsky case did not drag on. The forward, under contract for one more season, signed an eight-year contract extension with the Canadiens, the team announced.
The agreement has a total value of $60.8 million, for an annual average of $7.6 million.
Slafkovsky will therefore be the third employee of the team, behind Nick Suzuki (7.875 million) and Cole Caufield (7.85 million).
Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes is scheduled to meet with the media at 4 p.m. to provide an update. This contract should therefore be discussed extensively.
In 2023-24, Slafkovsky scored 50 points, including 20 goals, in 82 games. In his second NHL season, he ranked third on the team in goals and hits (152) and fourth in points and assists, while leading the club’s forwards with 71 blocked shots.
He set a career high with a nine-game point streak (March 9-28), during which he had two goals and eight assists.
A first-round pick by the Canadiens in 2022, first overall, Slafkovsky has 24 goals and 36 assists in 121 games with the Habs in the NHL.
More details to come.