Nathan MacKinnon contract details: Avalanche superstar signs monster deal to become highest-paid player in NHL

Back up the brinks trucks in Denver. Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche have come to terms on an eight-year, $100.8 million contract extension for the superstar forward, the team announced on Tuesday. 

EIGHT MORE FOR NATE THE GREAT!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/BzQmrdIk6w

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 20, 2022

The deal, which does not kick in until the 2023-24 season, will make MacKinnon the highest-paid player in the NHL. His AAV of $12.6 million will just pass by Oilers star Connor McDavid, who earns $12.5 million a year. 

“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,” Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland said 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.”

The No. 1 pick from the 2013 draft is coming off a Stanley Cup win in June when the Avs took down the defending champion Lightning. The 27-year-old center led the team in goals during the postseason with 13 and finished third in points with 24. This came after MacKinnon put up an 88-point regular season in 65 games. 

Since MacKinnon joined the league in 2013-14, only Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and Brad Marchand have scored more points than him. And ever since MacKinnon really hit his stride in 2017-18 with his 97-point season, only McDavid and Draisaitl have more points in the last five seasons. 

He’s a guy that can do it all. MacKinnon plays in all situations, has incredible speed and can handle the puck with ease. The forward boasts exceptional hands and is one of the league’s best passers. He doesn’t shy away from the physical game either and will drop the gloves to stand up for a teammate whenever he needs to. 

MORE: Who are the NHL’s highest-paid players in 2022-23?

After being on a team-friendly deal the last seven seasons, one of the best players in the leagues cashes in and gets a well-deserved pay raise. 

Nathan MacKinnon contract details

MacKinnon’s extension is for eight years carrying a total of $100.8 million. It will have an AAV of $12.6 million. 

The deal does not start until 2022-23 and will run until 2030-31. MacKinnon will be 36 years old when the contract expires. The contract carries a full no-trade clause for all seven years. 

Here is a breakdown of the money for each season. 

Nathan MacKinnon contract structure:

23-24: $15.725M signing bonus, $775k salary
24-25: $15.725M SB, $775k salary
25-26: $15.25M SB, $800k salary
26-27: $3M SB, $9.15M salary
27-28 through 30-31: $8.91M SB, $990k salary each year

AAV $12.6 M

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 20, 2022

The Avalanche forward is currently in the final year of his seven-year, $44.1 million deal he inked back in 2015, which is one of the best team-friendly deals in NHL history. 

Nathan MacKinnon stats

MacKinnon is coming off his highest point-per-game rate in his career, producing at a clip of 1.35. It is a better mark than when he scored a career-high 99 points in 82 games in 2018-19, and higher than his 97 points in 74 games the year prior. 

In total, MacKinnon already has put together three 90-point seasons and would have made it four had injuries not kept him out of 17 regular season games.