Kent Hughes once again looks like a genius, and this time it involves the young forward Juraj Slafkovsky

Kent Hughes finally made moves regarding the contract extensions of Juraj Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle, and he did so in impressive fashion.

On the first day Slafkovsky was eligible for an extension, he signed an 8-year deal worth $7.6 million per season. While Guhle's extension took a bit longer, it also came at a very favorable long-term price.

The Canadiens' GM has now secured his three top forwards and his best future defenseman with excellent long-term contracts.

Kent Hughes looks like a genius with Juraj Slafkovsky's contract

This type of deal always carries some risk, given that such a young player hasn't fully proven himself yet. Many fans are critical of Hughes for this, but it was a gamble worth taking.

Slafkovsky has the potential to become one of the best wingers in the NHL. He has all the tools to succeed and showed great promise in the second half of the season.

When comparing his contract to others, it's clear that Hughes made a smart move. Matty Beniers in Seattle signed a 7-year deal with an average of $7.14 million per year, a contract similar to Slaf's.

At 21, Beniers scored 37 points in 77 games, while Slafkovsky had 50 points in 82 games at just 19 years old.

Beniers had a strong rookie season with 57 points at age 20, but there was a decline in his points afterward. This comparison highlights the higher ceiling that many believe Slafkovsky has.

With his size and skills, Slafkovsky should be a formidable player for many years. Considering Beniers' contract, it seems Hughes made a brilliant move by signing the 2022 first overall pick to this deal for 8 years.

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