From underpaid to the highest-paid, Nathan MacKinnon just got a huge raise for winning a Stanley Cup.
How huge?
Well, the eight-year extension the Colorado Avalanche centre signed on Tuesday is worth an NHL-record $100.8-million. With an annual cap hit of $12.6-million, MacKinnon now tops Edmonton’s Connor McDavid ($12.5-million) as the top earner in the league.
That’s quite the jump for a player who was considered the most underpaid in the league, having made just $6.3-million for each of the past seven seasons.
“It’s not what you want, that’s for sure. It’s not the title you’re looking for,” MacKinnon said at last week’s NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas. “I’m glad we won a Cup though.”
MacKinnon, who has one more year remaining on his current contract, had warned the Avalanche that he would not negotiate during the season. That put pressure on management to get a deal done or risk losing him to free agency in the same way that Calgary lost Johnny Gaudreau this summer.
“I want to be an Av for life. That’s my only focus,” said MacKinnon, who scored 32 goals and 88 points in 65 games last season, while putting up 24 points in 20 playoff games. “I’d prefer it to be done. I just don’t want to talk about it at all. And if it’s not done, then I’ll probably just stop talking to them until after the season.
“I know it’s a cliche thing, but it is tough. It gets emotional. You feel like it’s personal at times.”
As for who has his title now as the most underpaid, MacKinnon suggested Avalanche teammate Cale Makar, whose $9-million cap hit is ninth-highest among defencemen.
“He has it now,” said MacKinnon, laughing. “I chirp him about who makes more than him. I’m not going to say any names, but I’m like ‘Damn, why you’d sign that for?’”
CHARA, YANDLE AND SUBBAN HANG UP THE SKATES
The NHL got a lot younger on Tuesday, with 45-year-old Zdeno Chara, Keith Yandle (36) and P.K. Subban (33) all announcing their retirements.
With Chara hanging up the skates, Sportsnet tweeted out that there is no longer an active player remaining in the league who has lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs. That’s not only a testament to how long he’s played, but also an indication of just how awful the Leafs have been in the post-season.
You can expect the Slovak native and his pole vault-like hockey stick to get enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame at some point.
One player who chose to come back for another year was Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, whose $2.5-million contract was a sign an indication that the Bruins might not be done contending.
“To know that he’s coming back at a discounted price says a lot,” said Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman. “He wants more than just to win games. He wants to make sure that Boston can win a Cup.”
CROSBY IS NOT GETTING CLOSE TO RETIRING
After scoring 84 points in 69 games last season, it doesn’t look like Sidney Crosby will be announcing his retirement anytime soon. In fact, after skating with him over the summer, Nathan MacKinnon is expecting another big year from the 35-year-old.
“He’s as intense as ever, lately,” said MacKinnon. “I think he’s at a new chapter in his career. He wants to play at an elite level and that’s like the new challenge for him, which is pretty cool. Him and Ovechkin being 18 years in and still dominating.
“Sid had such an amazing season last year. I thought he should have been maybe up for MVP as well. Obviously, the points and stuff weren’t as high, but with everything he brings to the game, I don’t think there’s another guy like him. He just turned 35, which is crazy. He still looks young to me. He’s flying. I think he’s going to have a great year.”
As for how long he thinks Crosby can keep playing, MacKinnon said it will depend on whether he can still perform at an elite level.
“He doesn’t talk about it, but that’s what I think,” said MacKinnon. “I think he has three years on his deal and he wants to be elite. I think he’s too proud to be a 50-point guy. he wants to be elite as long as he can. That’s the goal.”
MOVE OVER McDAVID
Connor McDavid is no longer the highest-paid player in the league. And according to Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger, the Oilers captain is also no longer the best player in the league.
That honour apparently goes to Cale Makar, who last season became only the third player in the history of the NHL to win the Norris Trophy, Conn Smyth and Stanley Cup in the same year. And he did it at the age of 23.
“They’re all unbelievable. They’re like A, B and C and different in every way,” said Oettinger. “But I think Makar, in my opinion, is the best player in the league. He’s just kind of like a quarterback — he pretty much does everything. He’s got his hand in everything. I’m sure he’s heard it all.”
JOHNNY HOCKEY IS GREAT FOR COLUMBUS
As someone who spent the first 10 years of his NHL career in Columbus, Cam Atkinson said he was thrilled that Johnny Gaudreau chose to sign with the Blue Jackets — even if it meant he wouldn’t be joining Atkinson in Philadelphia.
“Fans have something to cheer for every day,” Atkinson said of Columbus. “I saw something along the lines that the sales and season tickets have gone through the roof by 40% or 50% or something crazy. That’s the effect that Johnny has on any given city. So it’s great for the city.”
HUGHES DIDN’T APPRECIATE CALGARY’S DOWN-AND-UP SUMMER
Like most Flames fans, Quinn Hughes went through a wave of emotions this summer following all the comings and goings in Calgary — except in reverse.
“I would have liked to see them go like this,” the Vancouver Canucks defenceman said, his hand pointing downwards, before pointing it back towards the sky. “But it seems like they went like this.
“So it is what it is. They’re gonna have a good team. Those are the teams we’re gonna have to beat.”
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