Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Barré-Boulet skates with the puck against the Arizona Coyotes during NHL action, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz. The Montreal Canadiens have signed Barré-Boulet to a one-year, one-way contract.Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press
Juraj Slafkovsky got a Canada Day payday.
The Montreal Canadiens signed the forward to an eight-year, US$60.8-million contract extension beginning in 2025-26.
The deal for the six-foot-three, 230-pound winger inked Monday as NHL free agency opened carries an average annual value of $7.6 million.
Slafkovsky, who put pen to paper the first day he was eligible for a maximum-term agreement, had 20 goals and 50 points in 82 games with the Canadiens in 2023-24.
Selected first overall at the 2022 NHL draft, Slafkovsky became first player in franchise history to record 40 points in a season before age 20 when he collected an assist on March 26 in Colorado.
The Canadiens also added forward Alex Barre-Boulet to a one-year, one-way contract Monday.
Terms were not disclosed, but multiple outlets reported the contract is worth $775,000.
Barre-Boulet had six goals and three assists in 36 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season.