Montreal Canadiens sign Cole Caufield to 8-year contract extension
Global News
Despite missing nearly half the season, Cole Caufield led the Canadiens in goals for the second consecutive year, tied with Nick Suzuki this season.
Cole Caufield picked up the phone and called his mother after agreeing to a lucrative extension with the Montreal Canadiens.
She couldn’t answer because she was busy at work, teaching. But once she called him back, the two shared a moment over the amount of money that’s not just life-changing for Caufield, but for his family, too.
“She was excited, started crying on the phone. It’s really so special for me and my family,” he said during a video call with reporters. “They couldn’t be more proud, and I couldn’t be more thankful for what they’ve done.
“I’m just, I’m at a loss for words sometimes just thinking about it.”
The Canadiens signed Caufield to an eight-year, US$62.8-million contract extension on Monday, completing a key piece of off-season business.
Caufield, who said he couldn’t even have dreamed of a number like that as a kid, wanted to sign long-term instead of opting for a bridge deal both to have his family “set for a while” and because of how much he loves playing in Montreal.
“The way this organization is going, the plan that’s intact, all that stuff, it makes a lot of sense,” he said. “I love being there, (it’s my) second home, first home, whatever you want to call it for me. I think it puts my family in a good place as well, all those things that kind of went into this final number and years.
“I’m very excited and very lucky to be a part of the Montreal Canadiens for a long time.”