

The Canadiens burned the first year of Caufield’s entry-level contract during the 2020-21 season when he played 10 regular-season games and 20 playoff games after leaving the University of Wisconsin. In 244 regular-season games, Hughes has 87-120-207 totals.Ĭaufield, selected 15th overall at the 2019 draft, has only played 123 games, posting 53-31-84 totals and had season-ending shoulder surgery in February. 1 overall pick by the New Jersey Devils at the 2019 draft, just completed the first season of his eight-year, US$64-million contract with an $8 million salary-cap hit. Any free agent who signs before the NHL’s April 12 trade deadline will be eligible to take part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It would be surprising if the Canadiens offer Caufield more than Suzuki when you look at what some of the players drafted the same year as Caufield have signed for after completing their NHL entry-level contracts. Caufield, 21, has 60 points and 31 goals in 97 career NHL games, including the playoffs.
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Sttzle, 20, has 87 points and 34 goals in 132 career NHL games. Suzuki was the highest-paid forward on the Canadiens this season with a salary-cap hit of US$7.875 million in the first year of his eight-year, US$63-million contract. Caufield could therefore rely on the contracts signed by Jordan Kyrou, and by a player like Tim Sttzle, who just signed for 8 years and a little more than 8 million dollars annually. Molson said he understands that Canadiens fans are eager for Caufield’s contract situation to be resolved, adding the negotiations are in good hands with Gorton and Hughes and that a deal would be signed before the start of next season. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

The last-place Canadiens have endured a miserable season to date, including a coronavirus outbreak that forced 24 players and two assistant coaches into isolation at its height.Ĭaufield, 21, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in U.S. Montreal Canadiens forwards Cole Caufield and Joel Armia have been placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol ahead of Tuesday’s game in Dallas against the Stars.
