As a bartender, I've experienced a world that has to decide my worth. Sometimes it's more than what I thought. Sometimes it's less. Everyone knows the feeling of working every day towards success and it's not necessarily a linear path. Often you have to take less money to get more or simply work harder, but there's someone that knows my pain: Nate MacKinnon. The Colorado Avalanche superstar was considered the "Most Underpaid Player in the NHL" until this week when his 6.3 million dollar AAV contract was extended to reward the player who took so much less from GM Joe Sakic. Sakic, the 1996 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, compensated his star by making him the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE NHL...by 100k a season. Nate MacKinnon will earn $12.6m over the next 8 years starting in 2023-24 over Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid. Clearly, Nate won the battle of the "Macs" twice; once in the Western Conference Finals and before a puck drops in 2022's new season. However, now that the Colorado star is the highest player in the NHL, he can't be "underpaid". The mantle must fall to someone and the question bestowed to us today on our podcast was, "Who?" Let's break down some of the best bargains in the NHL that will make The Who break out their song for it!
WATCH THIS ON YOUTUBE!!!!
Note: When using comparable numbers, we're trying to highlight other players around the same age and position
10) Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers): Ok, this one is a bit of a cheat. Leon Draisaitl signed an 8 year / $8.5m AAV deal in 2017, but he quickly justified the contract. In his second year of the deal, Draisaitl would surpass 100 points and in 2019-20, he’d score 110 points in 71 games. That last number (along with carrying the Oilers during Connor McDavid’s injured knee) earned him the Hart Trophy as League MVP. However a breakdown of his point total makes him a bargain over his higher paid teammate. Last season Connor McDavid costs the Oilers $102k a point, Draisaitl costs them only $77k a point. Though Draisaitl is part of the two-headed monster in Edmonton, his contract comes up in 2025, where he is going to PAAAAAAAAAAID by the Oilers or someone else.
Comparable AAVs: Mika Zibanejad $8.5m, Braydon Point $9.5m, Jack Eichel $10m
9) Pavel Buchnevich (St Louis Blues): With the Rangers drafting Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere over the last few years, this Russian forward was traded last season when he needed a new contract to St Louis. He immediately signed a 4 year / $5.8m AAV and pay dividends to the Blues. His 76 points checks him in at 76,000 dollars a point and if the 27 year old forward can replicate his first season in Missouri, the Blues could have GREAT value until 2025. I know there's Rangers' fans that are saying, "Oh we should have kept him," forgetting that Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin and Mika Zibanejad were due raises in 2021 and I'm not the only one that says it.
Comparable AAVs: Andrew Mangiapane $5.7, Anthony Mantha $5.7m, Nikolaj Ehlers $6m
8) Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils): Hard to believe a player can make this list AFTER getting a new deal, but Jesper Bratt makes it. The Devils’ forward signed a one year $5.45m deal. Bratt earned this raise from his play last season, where he posted career highs in goals, assists and points. Comparing Bratt’s new contract with last year’s numbers, the Swedish forward still checks in at $73k a point, which is MUCH cheaper than his teammates, Jack Hughes ($143k/point) and Nico Hischer ($121k/point). While I argued on Big Apple Hockey that the Devils should have locked up for longer term, the Devils are still getting a bargain out of their leading scorer from 2022.
Comparable AAVs: Travis Konecny $5.5m, Jonathan Drouin $5.5m, Oliver Bjorkstrand $5.4m
7) Igor Shesterkin (New York Rangers): I honestly can’t believe I’m saying this, but Igor Shesterkin is underpaid. The New York Rangers goaltender is costing the Blueshirts a paltry 157,407 dollars PER WIN (36). Shesterkin began the first year of a four year extension this season and HE’S ALREADY a bargain for the Rangers after winning the Vezina trophy. His excellent play got the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015; after not making the playoffs for since 2017. The Rangers goalie allowed 1 goal or fewer 29 times last season and that cost the Rangers at just under $195k / game. Comparing him to the other top goalies in the NHL, only Carolina’s Freddie Andersen comes close with $129k / win. Andrei Vasilevskiy checks in at $244k / win and Sergei Bobrovsky is $257k a win. Shesterkin’s hardware last year, puts him higher on this list than his competition. If Ilya Sorokin continues his strong play, NY may sport another goalie on this list next season.
Comparable Contracts: Matt Murray $6.25m, Jakob Markstrom $6m, Jordan Binnington $6m
6) Roope Hintz (Dallas Stars): Finishing up his second contract, Dallas Stars Rope Hintz is QUITE the steal for his team. The Finnish center notched 37 goals, 35 assists last season for 72 points. Hintz still has one more season at $3.1m AAV before he hits RFA status like his teammate Jason Robertson, so the Stars get to enjoy the $84k per goal and the 43,000 dollars they have to spend per point. They have to because when his contract negotiations come up next year, they can’t low ball ball him or he’ll respond with "That dog won’t hunt monsenior."
Comparable AAVs: Nick Paul $3.15m, Pius Suter $3.52m, Nicolas Roy $3m
5) Trevor Moore (Los Angeles Kings): At first glance of the LA Kings roster, the temptation is to look at Adrian Kempe and his 35 goals as a bargain, but Trevor Moore is making a lot less than his better paid teammate (Moore $1.875m | Kempe $5.5m). Moore's 48 points cost the Kings the spare change out of their couch at $39k per point during his career best 2021-22 season. The Kings center charged his team almost $94k for each plus of his +20 rating. Other numbers that were eye opening, his 202 shots eclipsed his career TOTAL before this season to a bargain basement charge of $9,282k per shot. Like many on this list, Moore's contract runs out after 2023, but he'll be an UFA. Someone is going to pay double his current contract for him.
Comparable AAVs: Yakov Trenin $1.7m, Evan Rodrigues $2m, Jordan Martinook $1.8m
4) Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks): Checking in at a sparse $38k per goal, Anaheim Ducks Troy Terry qualifies for this list. Terry is on his second NHL contract when he signed a 3 year / $1.4m AAV in 2020. The former Team USA shootout hero broke out last season with 37 goals and 30 assists on the rebuilding Ducks. After scoring 68 points in his first three full seasons, Terry's 67 points last season cost the Ducks under $21k per point. Hopefully there is more to come from the young Anaheim forward, but with RFA status coming at the end of the 2023; Troy Terry will be making A LOT MORE money in his next deal.
Comparable contracts: David Kampf $1.5m, Morgan Geekie $1.4m, Michael Rasmussen $1.46m
3) Ryan Hartman (Minnesota Wild): Only making $1.7m for the next two seasons, Minnesota’s Ryan Hartman is averaging 50,000 dollars a goal last season…and before you think, “sure, I can score 34 goals in between Zuccarello and Kirill the Thrill…” well than WHY AREN’T YA?!!! Hartman scored 16 goals in his previous two seasons at 120 games with the Wild, but in the last 82 games, he’s produced at a bargain price of $26,153 per point. His +31 checks him in at just under $55k a plus. It’s amazing that Wild are getting this production out of him and hopefully will continue as the Wild will need him to keep being that bargain as they navigate A LOT OF DEAD CAP until 2025.
Comparable AAVs: Travis Boyd $1.75m, Tomas Nosek $1.75m, Jake Evans $1.7m
2) Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche): Sometimes when making lists, you name individuals, but neglect that lines comes in threes and defenseman come in pairs. So as the reigning Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe winner Cale Makar draws all of your attention; a guy that enables him to play as well as he does is his defense partner, Devon Toews. The former New York Islander is making a mere $4.1m playing along side Makar as he racks up a +52 and 57 points of his own. That’s $79k a plus and a little over it for points, but you take his play that makes the reigning top defenseman better. Toews is worth EVERY PENNY of the $4.1m he’s getting from the Avs for this year and next. After that, he’s likely going to cost more money.
Comparable Contracts: Marcus Peterson $4.025m, Brandon Carlo $4.1m, Oscar Klefbom $4.167m
1) Elias Lindholm (Calgary Flames): Coming in at a mere $4.85m in AAV, Calgary Flames Elias Lindholm is the best bargains in the National Hockey league. The Flames center signed a 6 year, $29.1m deal in 2018 and he’s been more than worth every penny upon landing in Calgary in that MEGA-TRADE with Carolina. Oh, btw that trade was Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin to Calgary for Dougie Hamilton, Michael Ferland and the rights to Harvard Defenseman Adam Fox. Back to Lindholm because he’s making less money than Ryan Strome, Jonathan Marchessault, Mikael Granlund and Tyler Johnson. To put this in perspective, Lindholm notched 42 goals and 40 assists for 82 points. Johnson has 60 points the last three SEASONS with Tampa Bay and Chicago. Of all of the 40 goal-scorers this season, Lindholm checks in a $116k per goal. That’s even less than Chris Kreider’s $125k per goal during his first 50 goal season. Only Jason Robertson is a better value at just under $22k, but he was on an ELC. Lindholm’s value isn’t just there as he was runner up for the Selke trophy last year averaging just under $80k a plus. Conversely, Seth Jones is costing the Blackhawks just under $257k a minus. Which one would you rather pay for? Lindholm’s contract lasts until the end of the 2024 season.
Comparable Contracts: Ryan Strome $5m, Jared McCann $5m, Mikael Grandlund $5m
And that's our list, as much as I scoured through the NHL Salary structure, my math may not be perfect. If there's a player I left off this list, put it in the comments below and let's discuss it. There's a lot of good values out there, who's yours? Leave it here!
留言