Fresh off winning his first Stanley Cup with the Avalanche and leading the playoffs in goals, Nathan MacKinnon is now the highest-paid player in NHL history.
On Tuesday, MacKinnon agreed to an eight-year, $100.8 million extension with Colorado, per multiple reports. The $12.6 million average annual value surpasses Connor McDavid’s $12.5 million as the largest in league history.
Per Chris Johnston, $85.3 million of MacKinnon’s new deal will be paid out in signing bonuses.
With the 27-year-old locked in for his prime years, owner Stan Kroenke and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic are looking to build a dynasty in Denver.
Before the 2021-22 campaign, superstar defenseman Cale Makar signed a six-year, $54 million extension with the Avs. He would go on to win the season’s Norris and Conn Smythe trophies.
Kroenke has been spending big after winning three championships in one year: One of his other teams — the Denver Nuggets — signed back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic to a record-breaking five-year, $264 million supermax extension this summer.
The question now in the hockey world is who will be the next player to break the AAV record.
One strong possibility is Toronto’s Auston Matthews — the reigning Hart Trophy winner who is set to hit free agency in 2024.
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre.](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/USATSI_25429594_168416386_lowres-e1742146262321.jpg?quality=100&w=1024)
