Big money has been suggested for Cole Caufield's next contract

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MarcO
January 18, 2023 (10:19)

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Earlier this week, the Minnesota Wild granted a contract extension to forward Matt Boldy. The latter, who was about to finish his NHL entry-level contract this summer, will earn an average salary of 7M$ per year for the next 7 campaigns.

This contract will certainly set the table for the next one of Cole Caufield who is exactly at the same place as Boldy in his career. According to what Darren Dreger mentioned Tuesday night in his Insider Trading segment, discussions regarding the CH's number 22's future contract would have even started last month.

During his appearance on La Poche Bleue le midi, Maxim Lapierre came on the subject of this famous next contract. According to him, the negotiations, even if they started a long time ago, now have a new basis.

"Right now, he's on a pace to score 49 or 50 goals or so. I'm not sure you're going to accept that with 50 goals, a $7 million a year contract."

"You compare yourself to five guys in the National Hockey League when it's 50 goals. You compare yourself to (Auston) Matthews, (Alexander) Ovechkin, (Steven) Stamkos and (Connor) McDavid this season. I'd be very surprised if he'd take $7 million a year if those are his stats." - Maxim Lapierre

While he has great respect for Nick Suzuki and his role in the organization, Lapierre doesn't think Caufield could accept a contract under the $8M per year mark, which would be more than the captain making $7.785M per campaign. The scarcity of goal scorers in the league greatly increases Caufield's value.

"At some point, there aren't goal scorers like that," Lapierre continued. I understand the respect to be had in all of this for Nick Suzuki's contract, because he's a captain, but I don't see how the Canadiens are going to be able to sign Cole Caufield for less than $8 million a year. I don't think that's possible."

"Especially with the salary cap going up in 2-3 years. It's minimum $8 million a season for eight years." - Maxim Lapierre

Minimum $8 million per year.

Kent Hughes will have to move fast because the comparables could be even bigger very soon. Dylan Cozen, Trevor Zegras, Ty Dellandrea and Alexis Lafreniere are all in the same situation as Caufield and Boldy and will, according to CapFriendly, finish their entry-level contracts this summer. A contract extension could very well come soon for one of these players and set the bar even higher for Caufield.