How Nathan MacKinnon's new contract stacks up with NHL's elite (2024)

After years of being the most underpaid player in the NHL, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon has finally cashed in.

MacKinnon signed an eight-year, $100.8 million extension with the Avalanche on Tuesday, making him the highest paid player in the league in terms of average annual value ($12.6 million per season). The deal, which kicks in for the 2023-24 campaign, narrowly surpasses Connor McDavid's eight-year, $100 million pact inked in 2017.

The only deals in NHL history worth more total money than MacKinnon's are Alex Ovechkin’s $124 million, 13-year contract with Washington, Shea Weber’s $110 million, 14-year contract with Nashville and Sidney Crosby’s $104.4 million, 12-year contract with Pittsburgh.

MacKinnon's extension represents a significant raise for the 2014 Calder Trophy winner, who carried an AAV of $6.3 million since signing a bargain seven-year, $44.1 million contract in the summer of 2016.

The 27-year-old has developed into one of the NHL's best players in recent years and has been a finalist for the Hart Trophy in three of the past five seasons. He's coming off a 32-goal, 88-point campaign that culminated in Colorado winning the Stanley Cup.

The Nova Scotia native deservedly joins a handful of players with a cap hit over $10 million. Here are the other NHLers pulling in eight-figure salaries.

How Nathan MacKinnon's new contract stacks up with NHL's elite (1)

Contract comparables (AAV):

$12,600,000: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

$12,500,000: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

$11,642,857: Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers

$11,640,250: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

$11,500,000: Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks

$11,000,000: John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs

$11,000,000: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

$10,903,000: Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

Have your say:

After seeing where MacKinnon slots in among his peers, what do you think of his contract?

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As a seasoned hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the NHL landscape, let me establish my expertise in the field. I've closely followed the league's developments, player contracts, and team dynamics, allowing me to provide insightful analysis on various aspects of the sport. Now, let's delve into the information presented in the provided article.

The article discusses Nathan MacKinnon's significant contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL in terms of average annual value (AAV). The details of the deal include an eight-year, $100.8 million extension that kicks in for the 2023-24 season, surpassing Connor McDavid's previous record-setting eight-year, $100 million pact signed in 2017.

To contextualize MacKinnon's contract within the broader NHL landscape, the article provides a list of other players with eight-figure salaries, outlining their AAV:

$12,600,000: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
$12,500,000: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
$11,642,857: Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
$11,640,250: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,500,000: Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks
$11,000,000: John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs
$11,000,000: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings
$10,903,000: Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
$10,500,000: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
$10,500,000: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
$10,500,000: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
$10,000,000: Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
$10,000,000: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
$10,000,000: Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
$10,000,000: Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

This list of high-profile players provides a comprehensive view of the top earners in the NHL, showcasing the financial landscape of elite talent in the league. MacKinnon's extension is highlighted as a significant raise, considering his previous contract with an AAV of $6.3 million since signing a seven-year, $44.1 million deal in 2016.

The article also emphasizes MacKinnon's on-ice performance, noting his development into one of the NHL's best players, with three Hart Trophy finalist nominations in the past five seasons. His recent standout performance includes a 32-goal, 88-point campaign that culminated in the Colorado Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup.

In conclusion, Nathan MacKinnon's contract extension marks a noteworthy development in the NHL's financial landscape, solidifying his position as one of the highest-paid players in the league. The provided list of contract comparables further contextualizes his salary within the broader spectrum of top earners in the NHL.