Cole Caufield has signed an eight-year contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens, making him the highest-paid former Wisconsin Badgers hockey player in the NHL. The deal, announced on Monday morning, comes with an impressive annual average value of $7.85 million, surpassing the salaries of other notable Badger alumni currently playing in the league.
GOAL CAUFIELD IS STAYING IN MONTREAL ❤️ @colecaufield has signed an 8-year deal with the @CanadiensMTL! pic.twitter.com/zlKyOLLugM
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2023
Surpassing Other Wisconsin Natives
Cole Caufield’s new contract puts him in a league of his own among Wisconsin natives in the NHL. Ryan Suter, who had an average salary of over $7.5 million on a 13-year, $98 million agreement with the Minnesota Wild, had his contract bought out in 2021, rendering him a free agent. Additionally, Joe Pavelski, who had a maximum career salary of $7 million in his first contract with the Dallas Stars in 2019, is now surpassed by Caufield’s new contract.
Caufield Beats Out Wisconsin Badgers Alums
Caufield joins the ranks of other notable Wisconsin Badgers who have achieved significant financial success in the NHL. According to CapFriendly, the only other former Wisconsin Badgers player who has earned at least $7 million per season is Dany Heatley. Heatley signed a six-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators in 2007, boasting an annual value of $7.5 million.
Caufield’s Journey and Achievements:
Cole Caufield’s outstanding performance during his time with the Badgers led to his recognition as the top player in Division I Men’s hockey for the 2020-21 season. Winning the Hobey Baker Award, Caufield showcased his skills by leading the nation with an impressive 30 goals and 52 points.
He was also selected to the first-team CCM/AHCA All-American, named the Big Ten Player of the Year, unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten, and helped the Badgers to the Big Ten regular-season title. He was also the Big Ten scoring champion with 1.79 points per game.
Caufield was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens following the 2020-21 season, and he scored four goals and give points in 10 regular-season games at the NHL level after having three goals and four points in two games at the AHL.
Although Caufield’s final season of his entry-level contract with Montreal was cut short due to a shoulder injury, he still managed to score an impressive 26 goals in just 46 games. This accomplishment, coupled with his collegiate success, solidified his position as one of the league’s brightest young talents.