To succeed in the playoffs, a team needs players who outperform their contracts. This principle is well-known among NHL managers.

The Canadiens have positioned themselves well for this scenario, as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky will all earn under $8 million annually long-term.

With the salary cap set to rise, this could benefit the Habs significantly.

Nick Suzuki’s contract is already a great deal. Mike Matheson is another bargain, though he’ll be a free agent in two years, before the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup window opens.

Previously, Suzuki’s $7.875-million-a-year contract was seen as a burden, especially by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic. However, recent years have proven otherwise, showing flaws in that analysis.

Nonetheless, the Canadiens still feature in Luszczyszyn’s ranking of the league’s worst contracts. In his latest list, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher are highlighted among the top five honorable mentions.

Also on the list is Pierre-Luc Dubois, though he is not with Montreal.

The Canadiens are currently hindered by some poor contracts, notably those of Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Carey Price. Price’s $10.5 million annual contract for two more years is less problematic due to his LTIR status but still significant.

Gallagher and Anderson earn $6.5 million and $5.5 million annually, respectively, for the next three years, making them difficult to trade.

The Canadiens are biding their time, waiting for these contracts to become easier to manage. Whether it results in a buyout, trade, or LTIR designation, the goal is to minimize long-term impact.

In a year, as the cap increases again and more contracts in Montreal expire, the Gallagher and Anderson deals may appear less burdensome. Emphasis on “appear.”