Here’s our list of the largest contracts each of the 32 NHL teams has ever signed. Each contract is linked to its PHR post, except for those that predate the site’s existence. The amounts denote the total value owed to the player, including deferred money.
- Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon – eight years, $100.8MM. Signed 9-20-22.
- Blackhawks: Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews – eight years, $84MM. Signed 7-9-14.
- Blue Jackets: Johnny Gaudreau – seven years, $68.25MM. Signed 7-13-22.
- Blues: Jordan Kyrou/Robert Thomas – eight years, $65MM. Signed 9-13-22/7-13-22.
- Bruins: David Pastrňák – eight years, $90MM. Signed 3-2-23.
- Canadiens: Carey Price – eight years, $84MM. Signed 7-2-17.
- Canucks: Elias Pettersson – eight years, $92.8MM. Signed 3-2-24.
- Capitals: Alex Ovechkin – 13 years, $124MM. Signed 1-10-08.
- Devils: Ilya Kovalchuk – 17 years, $102MM. Signed 7-19-10. (revised to 15-year, $100MM deal on 9-3-10).
- Ducks: Corey Perry – eight years, $69MM. Signed 3-18-13.
- Flames: Jonathan Huberdeau – eight years, $84MM. Signed 8-4-22.
- Flyers: Travis Konecny – eight years, $70MM. Signed 7-25-24.
- Golden Knights: Mark Stone – eight years, $76MM. Signed 3-8-19.
- Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho – eight years, $78MM. Signed 7-26-23.
- Islanders: Mathew Barzal – eight years, $73.2MM. Signed 10-4-22.
- Jets: Connor Hellebuyck/Mark Scheifele – seven years, $59.5MM. Signed 10-9-23.
- Kings: Drew Doughty – eight years, $88MM. Signed 7-1-18.
- Kraken: Matty Beniers/Brandon Montour – seven years, $50MM. Signed 8-20-24/7-1-24.
- Lightning: Vincent Lecavalier – 11 years, $85MM. Signed 7-13-08.
- Maple Leafs: William Nylander – eight years, $92MM. Signed 1-8-24.
- Oilers: Leon Draisaitl – eight years, $112MM. Signed 9-3-24.
- Panthers: Aleksander Barkov – eight years, $80MM. Signed 10-8-21.
- Penguins: Sidney Crosby – 12 years, $104.4MM. Signed 6-28-12.
- Predators: Shea Weber – 14 years, $110MM. Signed 7-24-12.
- Rangers: Igor Shesterkin – eight years, $92MM. Signed 12-6-24.
- Red Wings: Henrik Zetterberg – 12 years, $73MM. Signed 1-28-09.
- Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin – eight years, $88MM. Signed 10-9-23.
- Senators: Tim Stützle – eight years, $66.8MM. Signed 9-7-22.
- Sharks: Erik Karlsson – eight years, $92MM. Signed 6-17-19.
- Stars: Tyler Seguin – eight years, $78.8MM. Signed 9-13-18.
- Utah (including Coyotes): Oliver Ekman-Larsson – eight years, $66MM. Signed 7-1-18.
- Wild: Zach Parise/Ryan Suter – 13 years, $98MM. Signed 7-4-12.
Who’s the best deal? Who’s the worst?
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Not sure which one is the best, but the worst is definitely the last one on this list
Worst is Erik Karlsson. Good player when he’s “on”. Liability when he’s not. The contract was so ludicrously overpriced that the Sharks rebuild could not start until his contract was moved.
And the team that acquired him is probably not going to make the playoffs.
Best is a tough call, because the good ones are all good value, but Sidney Crosby earning less than $10M AAV through a contract where his production was almost certainly worth more in most of those years stands out to me.
Huberdeau and Seguin are worse than Karlsson which is hard to beat. Best… Crosbys is a safe bet but I wonder if Stutzle contract might end up even better eventually. Ironically also the key piece in the Karlsson trade yeesh.
Huberdeau WAS a bad contract. He’s starting to turn it around, and he had several great seasons in Florida.
Seguin… Fair enough honestly. But I still go with the Karlsson contract simply because of how much of an obstacle it ultimately proved to be.
Honestly, I’d have to go with Price. He turned in ONE elite season after the signing, and that was it. Neither Seguin nor Karlsson have been complete busts, and we can’t judge Huberdeau yet. OEL’s in the running, sure, but Price was signed to that much more.
Fair take on Price though I tried not to hold his injury against him so much. Seguin has probably been the most underperforming of the contracts for me now that i think on it more. Karlsson has produced fairly prolifically when not injured though it’s still bad. Huberdeau got his contract post Florida I believe so that’s currently looking pretty sad but is early days.
Zetterberg best. Parise/Suter worst. Huberdeau, Karlsson & Seguin are all gross too.
Who is the first player to beat Ovie’s $124 M in 8 years instead of 13?
Without looking at who’s deal is up when, guessing Bedard off the top of my head.
That’s a $15.5MM AAV. With how quickly the cap is rising, I wouldn’t be overly shocked if McDavid or Kaprizov hits it in 2026.
It’s kind of crazy that McDavid making $15 a year would be some special mark when he’s the best player in the league. Meanwhile, you have relievers making more in baseball, the 5th best WR is making twice that in football, and bench guys not even expected to start make about that.
There are a couple few that are not so great. Huberdeau isn’t good. Pettersson isn’t looking so good (but I guess he has time). Price didn’t turn out so well, but they were paying for past performance more than current/future performance. Crosby was the best with Ovie not far behind.
A lot of these were for past performance when you think of the years signed. Kane, Toews, Seguin, Doughty all after their cups. Price after his individual awards. Many still had some good years in the tank but it’s risky business. Boltz have done a mostly good job of keeping it all business and not personal on that front.
Best contract was getting rid of OEL for Guenther, Mc Bain and more. Thank you Canucks!
Kane,Crosby best. Price,Suter pretty bad.