Team: 2024-25 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: May 7, 2024

Published: May 7, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is genuinely an interesting topic of conversation. Slafkovsky is eligible for a contract extension this summer. Seeing his current trajectory, he is easily lining himself to be the highest paid forward of the future for MTL (unless Habs can get Celebrini!).

With MTLs current salary structure (of no one being paid more than Suzuki), It would be in Gorton and Hughes' best interest to try and lock up Slaf to a similar 8-year extension at $7.85mil aav. Is that A LOT to give Slaf right now? Absolutely... but the same could be said for Suzuki when he first signed his contract extension. The first year or two might look like a bit of an overpayment, but if Habs management are confident in Slafkovsky's potential, in would become a bargain contract (and probably during MTLs "window" to start competing, so there would be even more importance on having bargain contracts). This would be the riskiest scenario however, since if Slafkovsky regresses... Habs would have another anchor contract for a middle 6 forward (worst case scenario)...ouff

On the other end, if Slaf wants to maximize his $$$, it would probably be in his best interest to wait until his ELC expires to start negotiating an extension (in 2025). He'd be betting on himself to have an even better season in 2024-2025 (after this past Christmas, Slaf was essentially on a point per game pace...) and try to break the bank then.

The middle ground is Slafkovsky signing a bridge deal (probably around $5mil aav for 2 years). But again, this could be the costliest scenario for MTL, as best-case scenario (for Slaf?) is he achieves his full potential (essentially becoming another Rantanen type player), and will command a HUGE contract extension in 2027 probably upwards of $12-13mil aav (not that it would be that bad for MTL, because they'd have a Rantanen type player on their roster, but they'd be paying him at at least market value) ...


So:

Option 1 - Slafkovsky signs an 8 year extension at $7.85mil aav this summer. (Keeps MTLs current salary structure)

Option 2 - Slafkovsky waits (bets on himself) and only signs an extension (or bridge deal) and the end of his ELC in 2025.

Option 3 - Slafkovsky signs a bridge deal this summer around $5mil aav for 2 years. (middle ground option)



Personally, I'm willing to risk it for the biscuit and commit to Option 1. Give him the 8 years. It takes him until 29 years old (still time for another 7-8 year extension at that age), and Habs have a chance at a bargain contract during Slafs prime years AND MTLs projected "window" to start competing.