Canadiens sign Slafkovsky to 8-year extension

The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year extension worth $7.6 million annually on Monday.

His new deal will kick in during the 2025-26 campaign. He has one year remaining on his entry-level pact, which carries a cap hit of $950,000 plus an additional $3.5 million in performance bonuses.

The Habs selected Slafkovsky with the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

The 6-foot-3 winger enjoyed a strong sophomore season, chipping in with 20 goals and 50 points while appearing in all 82 games. He ranked third on the team with 152 hits and led all Canadiens forwards with 71 blocks.

Slafkovsky struggled in his rookie campaign, totaling four goals and 10 points in 39 games before a lower-body injury ended his season in January.

Before the 2023-24 season, Slafkovsky vowed to "play better" than in his freshman year, adding that he was prioritizing losing weight and increasing his lung capacity.

The 20-year-old spent the bulk of this past season on a line with sniper Cole Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki. The Canadiens controlled 51.7% of the expected goals and 52.6% of the shots while outscoring teams 40-34 with the trio on the ice at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.

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