Nick Suzuki, Canadiens Agree to 8-Year, $63M Contract Extension Ahead of Opener

The Montreal Canadiens announced Tuesday that they signed forward Nick Suzuki to a contract extension.

The Habs noted that it is an eight-year deal worth $63 million that will keep him under contract with the team through the 2029-30 season.

Regarding the decision to lock up Suzuki, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said: "We are very happy to secure Nick's services for the next eight seasons."

Although he is only 22 years of age and set to enter his third NHL season, Suzuki is already an alternate captain for the Habs and one of their best players.

Acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018, Suzuki made his NHL debut during the 2019-20 season, registering 13 goals and 28 assists for 41 points in 71 games.

He was even better last season, as he matched his 2019-20 point total of 41 but did it in only 56 games. He also set a new career high with 15 goals in a top-six forward role for Montreal.

Perhaps even more impressive was Suzuki's performance during the postseason. After putting up seven points in 10 playoff games in 2020, Suzuki followed that up with seven goals and nine assists for 16 points in 22 playoff games last season.

Suzuki was Montreal's leading scorer both in terms of goals and points during last season's playoffs, as the Canadiens shocked the hockey world and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Each of the past two regular seasons were truncated because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a full 82-game schedule on tap for 2021-22, Suzuki is poised to enjoy a career year.

Now that Suzuki is set to earn $7.875 million annually, the Habs are banking on him being their go-to guy offensively.

Suzuki is likely to center the top line with veteran Tyler Toffoli and rookie Cole Caufield flanking him.

Caufield is among the top candidates to win the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year, and if Suzuki continues to progress as expected, the Canadiens could have another star on their hands in Caufield.