Canadiens’ Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky shine as contracts stay below new market

Adam Fantilli has finally reached terms with the Columbus Blue Jackets, signing a six-year contract worth 13.5 million per season. His deal is the latest in a series of massive contracts for young stars that are rapidly reshaping the NHL salary landscape, and it puts the Montreal Canadiens’ long-term commitments in a particularly favourable light.

Top picks over 13 million while Canadiens’ core stays cheaper

All three first-overall picks from the 2023 draft class will now earn more than 13 million annually. Connor Bedard agreed this summer to an eight-year extension at 15 million per season. In Anaheim, Leo Carlsson is set to make 18 million per year for five seasons, matching the offer sheet the Philadelphia Flyers presented on July 3 and that the Ducks were forced to match. Cutter Gauthier, Carlsson’s teammate, signed for 13.5 million per year over six seasons.

In Montreal, general manager Kent Hughes moved earlier, securing Ivan Demidov at 9.1 million per season just two days before Carlsson’s offer sheet. Captain Nick Suzuki is already locked up long term at 7.8 million per year on a deal signed under Marc Bergevin, and Cole Caufield received a long-term contract in 2023 that comes in slightly below Suzuki’s cap hit.

Juraj Slafkovsky’s eight-year pact at 7.6 million per season raised eyebrows when it followed a 50-point campaign. He has since responded with a 73-point season, outproducing Fantilli by 24 points while earning just over half of the Blue Jackets forward’s annual salary. Slafkovsky is only seven months older than Fantilli, who entered the draft one year later because of his birthdate.

In Anaheim, Carlsson and Gauthier together account for 31.5 million per year. In Montreal, the combined cap hit for Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky is 23.2 million. Looking ahead to next season, Slafkovsky and Demidov together will cost 14.7 million, only slightly more than Gauthier alone and just one million more than Fantilli, even though Demidov already finished his rookie NHL season with four more points than the Columbus centre.

Blue-line bargains: Hutson compared to Byram and Buium

The same trend appears on the back end. The Chicago Blackhawks have committed six years at 12.5 million per season to Bowen Byram, acquired from Buffalo. Despite usage that effectively slotted him as the third defenceman with the Sabres, Byram put up 42 points and is expected to see both his minutes and production rise in Chicago, including first-unit power play time. Even so, his annual salary will be almost 4 million higher than Lane Hutson’s for six seasons after the current one.

In Vancouver, the Canucks handed Zeev Buium an eight-year deal at 9.3 million per season. The 20-year-old comes off a season with ups and downs, but the club paid a steep price by moving Quinn Hughes to obtain him and wanted to send a clear message about Vancouver as a destination, particularly for young American players. Buium will earn slightly more than Hutson through most of his twenties, underlining again how cost-effective the Canadiens’ blue-line contracts are projected to be.

Cap outlook gives Montreal room to manoeuvre

The Canadiens’ current cap hit sits around 101 million. They could see close to 18 million come off the books next year if Josh Anderson, Phillip Danault and Samuel Montembeault depart, though management can easily afford to keep one or two of those veterans if desired. Projections cited have the NHL salary cap rising to 113.5 million in 2027-28 and 127.5 million in 2028-29.

By then, a substantial portion of Montreal’s core should still be under contract: Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Alex Newhook, Demidov, Noah Dobson, Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson and goaltender Jakub Dobeš. Among prospects who might eventually press for significant raises, only Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky and David Reinbacher are clearly identified at this stage, reducing the risk of internal salary pressure.

With key players already secured at numbers below many of their peers, the Canadiens appear well placed to pursue a marquee name in the coming years if the opportunity arises. There is already speculation that Connor McDavid could consider leaving Edmonton when his contract expires in July 2028, although that remains purely hypothetical for now.

The next major decision point in Montreal likely comes in July 2029, with one year left on Suzuki’s current contract. The captain will be approaching 31 when his subsequent deal begins in 2030-31, a stage of a player’s career where teams often have to balance loyalty against potential decline. For now, however, the Canadiens have several seasons to prepare for that discussion.

Stenberg and Missa dominate pre-season as Sharks rout Ducks

Elsewhere, the San Jose Sharks routed the Anaheim Ducks in pre-season action on Thursday. Rookie Ivar Stenberg, the second overall pick in 2026, recorded four points including a hat trick, while Michael Missa, the previous year’s second overall selection, also finished with four points. Anaheim iced a stripped-down lineup featuring, among others, former Laval Rocket players Sean Farrell and Cory Schuneman, and it would be surprising if more than one or two Ducks who dressed in that game make the opening-night roster. On the Sharks’ side, however, the roster was close to full strength.