
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. 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. 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. 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. I won’t tell you to stay close to your phone today, but you never know when it’s going to happen.” Molson said that was a good question for Jeff Gorton, the executive vice-president of hockey operations, and GM Kent Hughes, adding: “It can happen any time. When Canadiens owner Geoff Molson spoke with reporters during a news conference at Université de Montréal more than two weeks ago, he was asked about Caufield’s contract negotiations. So not sure.”Ĭaufield can become a restricted free agent this summer. When asked if he was close to signing a new contract, Caufield said: “I’ve kind of been staying out of it. “Nope,” said the 22-year-old, who scored 26 goals to tie for the team lead with Nick Suzuki despite missing 36 games.

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