The Montreal Canadiens are banking on patience with Juraj Slafkovsky, the first overall pick of the 2022 draft.
On July 1, they offered him an eight-year contract worth $7.6 million annually, starting in 2025-26.
General Manager Kent Hughes hopes this investment will pay off in the long run. Slafkovsky, who has handled the pressure of being the top pick well, showed notable progress with 50 points in his second season, compared to 10 points in his rookie year.
Hughes emphasizes the importance of Slafkovsky's ongoing development rather than immediate standout performances.
He expects Slafkovsky's contract to become a bargain with the increase in the salary cap.
Montreal has also secured other young talents for the long term, such as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Kaiden Guhle. Hughes remains confident in this young core's potential to lead the team to success.
