Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid is no longer the highest paid player in the NHL
By Zach Laing
1 year agoStep aside Connor McDavid, there’s a new highest-played player in the league, at least as of next season.
His name: Nathan MacKinnon.
The Stanley Cup-winning superstar inked an eight-year contract extension Tuesday ahead of his final season playing under a super team-friendly deal that paid him $6.3-million a year.
MacKinnon’s new deal, kicking off in the 2023-24 season, will pay him an AAV of $12.6-million — a whole $100,000 more than McDavid.
“Nathan is obviously one of the premier players in the NHL, so a long-term extension was something we wanted to get done before the season started,” said Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland in the team’s press release. “He has that rare combination of speed and power with a high compete level that makes him a generational player. We are thrilled he will continue to be a member of this team and this community for many years to come.”
For MacKinnon, it’s well deserved. While he’s made mention that he doesn’t like the premise of being underpaid, his new deal puts him right at the top. The $100-million deal isn’t a surprise, either. MacKinnon has been one of the most productive players in the league over recent years since being taken first overall in 2013.
Over his 638 game career, he’s scored 242 goals and 406 points and his production has hit new highs in recent years. In each of the last three years, MacKinnon has scored 1.35 points per game played ranking third in the league behind Leon Draisaitl (1.47) and Connor McDavid (1.63).
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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