Eight-year contract extension for Cole Caufield

MONTREAL - Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes announced on Monday that the team has agreed to terms on an eight-year contract extension (2023-24 to 2030-31) with forward Cole Caufield. The deal will pay him an average salary of $7.85 million per season.

Caufield, 22, scored 26 goals and added 10 assists in 46 games in 2022-23 before he underwent a season-ending shoulder surgery. The Mosinee, WI native led the Canadiens in goals for the second consecutive year, tied with Nick Suzuki this season. Before going under the knife, Caufield was ranked 11th in the NHL in goals scored and eighth in the league with 19 even-strength tallies.

Since making his NHL debut in 2020-21, the 5-foot-7, 174 lb forward has recorded 84 points (53 goals, 31 assists) in 123 NHL games. Caufield is ranked second in the NHL among players drafted in 2019 with 53 goals, behind only first-overall pick Jack Hughes. The right-shot winger also notched 12 points (4G, 8A) in 20 playoff career games, all played in 2020-21.

The American forward was selected as the winner of the Hobey Baker Award in 2020-21, presented annually to the NCAA's top men's hockey player. His 72 goals scored in 2018-19 with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) remain the highest total in a single season in the program's history.

Caufield was selected in the first round (15th overall) by the Canadiens at the 2019 NHL Draft.