Let’s face it, even the lowest paid players in the NHL make good money. $700,000 is the league minimum right now and it will be rising to $750,000 2021-22. Nothing to sneeze at, that’s for sure. Superstars are guaranteed millions of dollars per season once their entry level contracts end and, should they remain superstars, they are going to end their 15-to-20-year careers (barring injury, of course) with enough money to last for generations if handled properly. Some players will take their teams for every penny they can squeeze, while others are willing to take less in order to lend their teams a hand. With that in mind, Pierre LeBrun, of TSN and The Athletic, recently listed the top 10 best value contracts in the NHL and it’s a pretty good one. We’re sure there will be some disagreement, especially when it comes to who should be in the top three-to-five, but the players listed certainly deserve to be on it. Let’s take a look, starting with number 10 and counting down to the contract he believes provides the best value right now.
Number 10 – Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple Leafs
When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, there seems to be little in-between on the love 'em or hate 'em scale. However, even if you're on the hate them end, it’s hard to dispute the fact that Frederik Andersen has been one of the best, and most consistent, goaltenders in the league for the last two or three years. With a five-year contract paying him a $5 million AAV, Andersen’s deal is a steal for the Maple Leafs right now and there’s another season left on it after this one. Here’s what LeBrun had to say.
“A 60-plus game, 35-win guy with a save percentage hovering around .918 since the day he got to Toronto. Consider that consistency and the fact he’s arguably been the Leafs’ MVP the last two years or so. Furthermore, he’s been making less money than other goalies such as Cory Schneider ($6 million), Jonathan Quick ($5.8 million) and Martin Jones ($5.75 million) during that stretch. The Leafs have more than received their bang for their buck in Andersen.”
Number 9 - Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
Couturier started his career as more of a defensive forward. He still is, but he’s added an excellent offensive game to his repertoire since he began, making him a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the ice. His current deal, which runs through the end of the 2021-22 season, is worth $4.33 million annually, an absolute bargain for a guy with back-to-back 76 points seasons. He’s on pace to match that number once again this season. Here’s LeBrun’s take:
“The perennial Selke Trophy candidate is impactful at both ends of the ice, as smart as they come and he’s a monster bargain for another two and a half years.”
Number 8 - Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
Another excellent two-way player, Barkov’s value exploded when he put up 76 and 94 points respectively in the last two seasons, proving he’s as dangerous offensively as he is defensively. Right now, Barkov is making $5.9 million annually on a contract that expires at the end of 2021-22. According to LeBrun, he’ll be getting much more during the next round of negotiations.
“He’s a $10-million player on today’s market. Let’s see what Barkov’s worth in the summer of 2022 when he’ll be looking for a new deal and not turning 27 until that September. He’s probably still young enough then to get another really good paying contract.”
Number 7 - Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
Scheifele still has some term left on his eight-year contract that pays him $6.125 million per season. It runs through the end of 2023-24. When Scheifele signed his current deal, he likely could have opted for a bridge deal that would have set him up for a bigger payday down the road. We’re certain the Jets were glad he didn’t. He’ll be 31 when his contract runs out, meaning he likely won’t be in line for an even bigger contract but given his consistency over the last four-to-five season, he’ll still be making very good money.
Number 6 - John Carlson, Washington Capitals
What a season this guy is having. Carlson is currently on place to shatter his previous career highs, and he’s had excellent numbers in the past. The defenseman recorded 68 points in 2017-18 and then 70 points last season, phenomenal for a blueliner. As it stands right now, he’s on pace to get over 100 points. The last d-man to do that was Brian Leetch in 1991-92. Carlson is an elite defenseman making $8 million a year, far less than others in his category are making. His current contract also takes him through to the end of the 2025-26 season. LeBrun:
“If Carlson was UFA last summer, he’d be looking at $11 million a year. So yes, this deal is already a bargain.
And it’s exactly what you want to see after a player signs a big extension like he did two years ago, raise their game. And that’s what Carlson has done over the past two years.”
Number 5 - Brendan Gallagher, Montreal Canadiens
We’re sure there’s bound to be some debate over this one, placing Gallagher ahead of players like Carlson. Barkov and others. Gallagher is not an elite player. He is, however, one of the most consistent players in the league and a guy who plays with all heart. Despite his small stature, Gallagher has made a living out of placing himself in front of the net and scoring goals from less than five feet out. And he gets punished for it constantly. While he may take a beating, Gallagher just never stops. At just $3.75 million annually for six years, his contract in today’s NHL is easily one of the best bargains in the league. It lasts for one more season after this one. LeBrun sums it up well:
“The deal at the time was pretty commensurate with what a 20-goal, two-way winger should get at the time. Where the value kicked in is when he became a 30-goal scorer in 2017-18, and he’s on pace for his third straight such campaign. Combined with his overall 200-foot game, his impact on Montreal’s top line, his unrelenting work ethic, this contract has delivered and then some for Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin.”
Number 4 – Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
Much like Gallagher, Marchand is one of those players that you love to have on your team, and you love to hate if he’s not. What sets Marchand apart from Gallagher are numbers that put him at elite status. In his previous three seasons, Marchand has recorded 100 points once and 80+ twice. At $6.125 million a season and another five seasons after this one left on his contract, Marchand’s agent probably rues the day he advised his client to sign at that price. Should Marchand keep on his current place, he should have no issue breaking the 100-point mark again this season.
Number 3 – Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
Not too many players will score 100+ points in a season and not be the top player on their team but such is the case for Draisaitl, who has to live somewhat in the shadow of Connor McDavid. We’re less than halfway through the season and Draisaitl is on pace to have his best season ever. He could come in somewhere around 120 to 130 points. The argument will always be that his play is elevated by playing on a line with a generational talent like McDavid, and that’s likely true to an extent. But no one should discount the massive amount of talent that Draisaitl has on his own and anyone who thinks he wouldn’t still be putting up big numbers without McDavid is lying to themselves. At $8.5 million a season for eight years, expiring at the end of 2024-25, Draisaitl still has a lot of prime years hockey left to play. While salaries around him continue to climb, as well as his numbers, his contract will continue to look better in the coming years. LeBrun believes Draisaitl is worth much more than he’s currently being paid.
“And Kudos to veteran agent Mike Liut for getting what was then an industry-changing, second contract for his client. However, about midway through last season’s 50-goal campaign, it was pretty evident that the Oilers were the real winners. They’ve got a superstar on the books at $8.5 million a season for another five and a half years when he should be in the $12-million salary range.”
Number 2 – David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Another major win for Bruins GM Don Sweeney on this list. Pastrnak is seemingly able to score goals at will and make it look easy. He has three-and-a-half years left on a contract paying him $6.66 million per season, a mind-boggling price in today’s NHL for an elite scorer. Pastrnak has recorded 80+ points in each of the last two seasons and is on pace for well over 100 points this year. LeBrun’s take:
“…the ink was barely dry on that contract and all Pastrnak has done since is fill the net left and right. One of the NHL’s premier scorers at an incredible bargain for another three and a half years.”
Number 1 – Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
With three-and-a-half years left on a contract paying him $6.3 million a season, MacKinnon is making half of what he should be getting, and maybe even less than half. And the real beauty is, MacKinnon recently said he’d be willing to take less than what he’s worth on his next deal to help the team win a Stanley Cup. He may not need to do that. Colorado is on the cusp of greatness and the likelihood that this team wins a championship in the next three to five years seems very high. MacKinnon is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to the team’s success, scoring 39 goals and 97 points two seasons ago and 41 goals and 99 points last season. He’s one pace for another 40+ goal season again this year. Right now, it’s hard to disagree that he’s the best bargain in the NHL, and probably will remain that way for another few years at least.
Who do you think was missed on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
