The Canadiens remained relatively quiet during the free-agent market on July 1, with their sole signing being Alex Barré-Boulet, despite having Jonathan Marchessault on their radar. However, they did not find it sensible to offer a five-year contract to a 33-year-old, as the Predators did, given their current situation.
What made more sense was securing a long-term deal with Juraj Slafkovský, which they successfully did by signing him to an eight-year, $60.8 million contract, keeping him in Montreal until 2033.
Locking in a promising 20-year-old for eight years is a logical move, though initially, the Canadiens didn’t expect to achieve an eight-year agreement with the Slovak. According to Kenzie Lalonde of TSN, the team was prepared for a six or seven-year deal at best.
When the eight-year option was proposed, it delighted the GM. Understandably, the club had reservations, considering Slaf was just starting to shine in the NHL and might have preferred to wait for another strong season to boost his value and avoid a discounted contract, similar to what Jack Hughes did with his eight-year, $8 million-a-year deal.
It’s possible that Slafkovský’s love for playing in Montreal and his relationship with a Quebec girlfriend influenced his decision to commit long-term. If he feels at home in the city and appreciates the team’s management, signing at a discount could be a small price to pay for long-term stability and a substantial financial commitment.
Kent Hughes’ satisfaction with the eight-year deal is understandable: Montreal has high hopes for Slaf, believing the contract will prove valuable over time.
Instead of a contract expiring alongside Nick Suzuki’s in 2030 or Cole Caufield’s in 2031, Slafkovský’s commitment until 2033 secures a significant part of the team’s top-6 for the next nine years.
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