5 NHL Players Who Could Join The $100M Contract Club

Whether it be a veteran player or a rookie NHLer, contracts vary in all forms. Starting from the calculations of their age, experience, and play record, a player can get up to as high as $100 million-plus contracts. Back in the day, NHL contracts had no limits.

This allowed a particular player to sign a 10-year or even a 12-year contract with a team. Sadly, days have changed and so have NHL rules. Unlike back then, the NHL now follows the rule of 7 and 8. It means that a player can re-sign with his team for a maximum of 8 years. Whereas, it’ll reduce a year down for unrestricted free agents. 

They can sign no more than 7 years long. This rule became effective in 2013. The only players who had contracts for more than the restricted years are Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon. They are the only players to join the $100 million mark after the 2013 restrictions.

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Top 5 NHL Players To Sign $100 Million Contract

Signing up for less year means it’ll be difficult for NHL players to enter the $100 million threshold. Even then, there are players who have stepped outside the bounds and some who have the potential to do so. Before the $100 million club wasn’t an untouchable dream.

Players who have signed contracts before 2013, and are part of the $100 million club are – Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin with a $124 million deal for 13 years, Ilya Kovalchuk $100 million contract for 15 years, Shea Weber who signed a contract with Philadelphia Flyers that Nashville Predators matched.

Weber signed his deal 2 years later Ilya in 2012 for a $110 million contract for 14 years, according to Bleacher Report. Another player to join the club was Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby. 

Crosby signed a 12-year $104.4 million contract in 2012.  Respective NHL players who have the potential to join the $100 million club within the next 5 seasons are:

5. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak, nicknamed ‘Pasta’ is the winger for the Boston Bruins team. Pastrnak’s plays have been nothing but amazing. He is currently under a 6-year contract with a cap hit of $6.7 million, with the possibility of ending in July. The Bruins would definitely want to hold onto him, by signing him for a long-term deal.

The Athletics Fluto Shinzawa noted, that Pastrnak could be NHL’s next big contract holder who signs his name in the $100 million club. Shinzawa even calculated that maybe he’ll sign an agreement for 8 years with $88 million.

His performance slowed down during the pandemic situation, but he enjoyed the 2019-20 season with 48 goals and 95 points in 70 games. Furthermore, he is considered one of the most consistent threats on the ice. He has participated in 541 plays, scoring 547 points with 261 goals and 286 assists. 

4. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews is undoubtedly one of the cornerstones of the team. His performance earned him Calder Memorial Trophy right after his NHL debut, the 2nd straight Maurice Richard Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award. These are just a few names among others.

Currently, on an annual average value of $11.6 million for 5 years, he is estimated to get an offer of $130 million with an annual getting $16.25 million for the next 8 years. Surely the Leafs wouldn’t just leave their knight in the free market right?

During his NHL years, he recorded 494 points with 275 goals and 219 assists in 439 games played. In the 2022-23 season, he has yet to score 16 goals and 21 assists in 32 games, gathering a point of 37. It is estimated that, by the end of this season, he can rack up 50 goals and 100 points.

3. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Carrying a $9 million AAV, Cale Makar considered the best NHL defenceman is expected to ink down an 8-year $130 million contract with the team. His current deal will pull him up to his 28 birthday, i.e, through 2026-27 respectively.

A player of this level and this young will surely be the topic of envy, one whom the Avalanche will not likely leave. Makar helped the team win their first Stanley Cup trophy in 21 years. This 2022-23 season the Avs are missing a lot of their strength to injuries.

Even among them, Makar has made 7 goals and 21 assists for 28 points in 30 games. His NHL total is 55 points with 153 assists in 208 games with total points of 208. Apart from Lord Stanley, he has also won the Calder Trophy, James Norris Memorial Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, etc.

2. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild

Right after his NHL debut, Kirill Kaprizov scored 27 goals and 51 points in 56 games, snatching the Calder Memorial Trophy in the process. In September 2021, he penned a 5-year contract with an AAV of $9 million. Not to mention, that very year he justified that the contract was not going to waste.

Kaprizov set a single-season franchise record by scoring 47 goals and 61 assists for 108 points. Chosen by the Wild during the 2015 Draft, he set himself up as one of the most important players of the franchise. In the 2022-23 season, he earned 42 points with 19 goals and 23 assists in 31 games played.

Given his speed in scoring points, he can very well reach the 50 goals mark and 100 points for the 2nd straight season. His running contract will expire by 2025-26 while he’ll still in his prime. Whether it be the Wilds or any other NHL team, he is sure to get a contract of around $120 million on a long-term basis.

1. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Currently, Leon Draisaitl is in the 6th year of his 8-year contract worth $68 million. Connor McDavid is one of the $100 million club members, it’ll just be great to see Draisaitl join his friend in the circle. He currently has an $8.5 million cap hit. 

His extraordinary performance has put him right after Matthews with 198 goals and 2nd to McDavid in 455 points. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award, staying almost close to McDavid in performance. 

He is expected to land at least a 7-year $100 million contract, though not sure, maybe for the next 7 or 8 years considering his age. This season he made 54 points with 21 goals and 33 assists in 33 games. In his NHL career, he participated in 591 games, scoring 670 points with 275 goals and 395 assists.

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