Canadiens: Too Rich, Too Soon?

La Poche Bleue podscast has a spin-off this season called La Poche Bleue, Blanc, Rouge. As the title suggests, it focuses solely on the Montreal Canadiens and yesterday, former NHL player Andre Roy and Steve Begin were discussing the Juraj Slafkovsky contract.

For them, GM Kent Hughes pulled the trigger too soon on the young Slovak's second contract. In their view, there should have been a bridge deal before the 20-year-old left winger was signed to a long-term contract.

Related: Canadiens: Slafkovsky Got A Swift Talking To

As you'll recall, he signed an eight-year deal this Summer with a $7.6 M cap hit. Granted, with 14 points in 24 points, Slafkovsky is on pace for 48 points in an 82 games season, yes, that's less than last year's 50 points but only just and he is still learning the ropes. Furthermore, right now, he's playing with Kirby Dach as his center and he's struggling big time.

The truth of the matter is, yes Hughes could have signed him to a bridge deal, but with the cap limit raising every year and the very real likelihood the former first overall pick will become exactly what the Canadiens expect them to become, they never would have locked him up long term for so little money a couple of years down the line.

Yes, it is a bit of a gamble, because nobody has got a real-life working magic eight ball, not even Hughes and Jeff Gorton. Judging by how he took off in the second part of the last season, I have no issue whatsoever with the Canadiens' brass investing in the youngster. Locking him up long-term for less money than Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, before he has had the opportunity to become better than them was the right move.

Sure, it is possible that he won't be, but that cap hit is still very reasonable even if he does reach Suzuki or Caufield level performance. At the end of the day, it will mean more cap space when Hughes is ready to go big game hunting in free agency. It's much too early to panic about Slafkovsky, he's a 20-year-old learning to ply his trade. Keep calm, the fact that younger players are shinning brighter right now in another market doesn't mean they will be forever, it takes time to build a contender, but also to build a hockey player and not just someone who plays hockey as Martin St-Louis would say.

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