TVA Sports 10 best contracts features two Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have been focused on developing players and methodically pushing forward towards becoming a competitive team.

One thing that is very important when building a contender is handling the financials with expertise. Spending money unnecessarily often handcuffs a team and comes back to haunt them, when they least expect it. There is also the factor of spending too much on one hit wonders or guys that are aging, but are approaching the end of their productive years.

For the Canadiens, Kent Hughes has made sure to hand out big contracts to the guys who are deserving of them. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield were given contracts that look like a bargain and as they continue maturing, that might even become more true. Samuel Montembeault also has a pretty solid contract, that could end up being a good one for Montreal down the road.

But as we know, the Habs have some less-than-ideal contracts as well, contracts that we wish could be traded away. Josh Anderson is a good example, his contract was signed when he was playing well and it was sort of counting on him becoming an important piece for the Habs. Brendan Gallagher was for a long time a great player for the Canadiens, but as he starts to age, his contract isn't looking very glamorous.

Nick Suzuki & Mike Matheson

TVA's list of the 10 best contracts features captain Nick Suzuki's eight-year $63 million deal as the fourth best contract. His number one defenseman and one-half of the assistant captains, Mike Matheson is ranked as the eighth-best contract. Matheson's cap hit is $4.875 million, which will continue until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Given the fact that Suzuki keeps playing 82 games a season and growing as a very capable two-way number one centre, his contract will only get better. With his linemates still growing, the only way things will go is up and his 77 point season might not be the best we see from him. No moment is too big for him and when the pressure is dialed up, he always finds another gear,

Matheson, while he can be frustrating at times, was the best all-around defender for the Canadiens. So, it makes a ton of sense why he was relied on so heavily on the power play and the minutes he was given were generally used for good. Matheson did plenty of good with his minutes and that is why he continued playing big minutes, which allowed him to reach his career-best 62 points.

Suzuki's contract being included isn't surprising, but it is nice to see Matheson get recognition.