Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche Agree to 8-Year, $100.6M Contract; NHL's Top-Paid Player
Sep 20, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche hoists the Stanley Cup after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six to take the best of seven Stanley Cup Final series 4 games to 2. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
After leading the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title, Nathan MacKinnon is now the NHL's highest-paid player.
The Avs announced an eight-year contract extension with their superstar center on Tuesday.
A new deal has been expected for some time, with MacKinnon saying last week on the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas the two sides were "pretty close" on an agreement.
"I'd prefer it to be done," he added. "… It gets emotional. You feel like it's personal sometimes. I'd like to get it done just so it's not a distraction at all.
The five-time All-Star will earn $6.85 million in 2022-23, the final season of his seven-year, $44.1 million contract that was signed in July 2016.
MacKinnon has been everything the Avs could have hoped for since making him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft. The Canadian star became the youngest player in NHL history to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as an 18-year-old during the 2013-14 season.
Colorado ended its three-year playoff drought in MacKinnon's rookie campaign. After another three-year absence from 2014-17, the Avs have made the postseason in each of the past five seasons.
The 2021-22 season was arguably the best in Avalanche history. They set franchise records for regular-season wins (56) and points (119) to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They went 12-2 in the first three rounds of the playoffs, including two sweeps to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
MacKinnon had six points in six games against the Tampa Bay Lightning to lead the Avs to their first championship in 21 years. He has scored 648 points in 638 career regular-season games.
It's been nearly three months since the Colorado Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup by winning a six-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning to end the...
P.K. Subban Announces NHL Retirement After 13 Seasons; Won Norris Trophy in 2013
Sep 20, 2022
New Jersey Devils' P.K. Subban during the second period of an NHL preseason hockey game against the New York Rangers Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in New York.(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Veteran defenseman P.K. Subban announced his retirement Tuesday after 13 years in the NHL:
Subban played his first seven seasons for the Montreal Canadiens before they traded him to the Nashville Predators. Nashville traded him to the New Jersey Devils prior to the 2019-20 season.
The three-time All-Star tallied just 59 points across three seasons with the Devils, while his 18:18 average time on ice in 2021-22 was the lowest of his career.
Subban won the 2012-13 James Norris Memorial Trophy as the best defenseman in the league with 38 points (27 assists and 11 goals) and a plus-12 mark in 42 games in a lockout-shortened season. He then tallied 40 or more points in five straight seasons from 2013 through 2018, surpassing 50 four times in that span.
He also reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2017 with the Predators.
The 33-year-old saw his production decline over the past three seasons, while the Devils were among the worst teams in the NHL during that stretch.
Subban still made valuable contributions off the ice, including as the co-chair of the Player Inclusion Committee.
Last June, he won the King Clancy Trophy honoring players who "best exemplify leadership qualities on and off the ice and have made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in their community."
His all-around contributions to the sport give Subban a memorable career that ends with 115 goals and 352 assists in 834 games.
Zdeno Chara Retiring from NHL After 25 Seasons; Will Sign 1-Day Contract with Bruins
Sep 20, 2022
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 07: Zdeno Chara #33 of the New York Islanders skates in warm-ups prior to the preseason game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on October 07, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Zdeno Chara's 25-year NHL career will come to an end Tuesday.
Chara announced on Instagram he will sign a one-day contract with the Boston Bruins to officially retire with the team he spent the bulk of his career playing for.
Zdeno Chara announces on Instagram that he is retiring after 25 seasons in the NHL.
Amid speculation about his future early in the offseason, Chara's agent, Matt Keator, told Matt Porter of the Boston Globe in June the 45-year-old was "going to take the summer with his family and assess where he's at physically, where his family's at, and make a decision in September."
A third-round draft pick by the New York Islanders in 1996, Chara made his NHL debut in 1997. He played for four different teams: the Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Bruins and Washington Capitals.
Chara was one of the best defensemen of his era. He made six All-Star appearances from 2003 to 2012, won the Norris Trophy in 2009 and won a Stanley Cup title with the Bruins in 2011.
After he spent 14 seasons in Boston from 2006 to 2020, the team informed him in his last year that he would not be re-signed. Chara decided to continue his playing career by signing a one-year contract with the Capitals.
However, he wasn't much of a factor with 10 points in 55 games. It was his lowest-scoring season since putting up nine points in 2000-01 with the Islanders.
The Isles brought Chara back on a one-year deal for the 2021-22 season.
Chara was named to the NHL's All-Decade second team for the 2010s. Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic wrote this about the Slovakian star when he was named to the outlet's All-Decade squad:
"His career high of 52 points did come in 2011-12, but that's not what puts Chara in this elite company. It was his innate ability to completely shut down opponents using his long stick, smart positioning and knowing how to toe the line. He was a problem other teams had to solve, and it led to the Bruins scoring 57 percent of the 5-on-5 goals while he was on the ice in the 2010's, a mark unmatched by any of the other five defenders listed here."
Chara's history as a defenseman who is capable of scoring made him an intimidating presence on the ice for more than two decades. He will almost certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible.
NHL Fans' Dos and Don'ts for the Preseason
Sep 20, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 15: Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings signs autographs during the 2022 NHL player media tour at Encore Las Vegas on September 15, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The first proper NHL offseason in years is wrapping up, and the 2022-23 season is finally around the corner.
It’s hard to beat the mood this time of year, and the possibilities seem endless as all your favorite players trickle back into town and new faces emerge.
Could this be the year your team hoists the Stanley Cup? Where in the world is Erik Johnson? Which new, exciting faces will the Vegas Golden Knights find a way to alienate?
BUFFALO, NY - MARCH 10: Jack Eichel #9 and Alex Pietrangelo #7 of the Vegas Golden Knights react as Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his empty-net goal in an NHL game on March 10, 2022 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo won, 3-1.(Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
There’s nothing wrong with letting yourself get pumped up for the season, but sometimes this excitement gets the best of us during the preseason and we invest too much energy in the wrong things.
One of the most interesting things I learned as a beat reporter was how to approach the preseason and get excited about the right things. So I thought I’d let you in on a few tips to get you in the best shape of your life.
Do get to know the new star
So, your team just acquired one of the hottest commodities of the offseason. As great as that is, any hockey fan who has gone through this in the past decade or so knows the thrill comes with its burdens.
Not only do the usual pundits start grading the move the second it’s official, but soon everyone with a Wi-Fi connection is suddenly a lifelong expert on this player, your team and the salary cap. This will be something you’re dealing with in varying degrees throughout the season.
But what if I told you there’s a fleeting period of time where you can guarantee that the vibes surrounding this signing are almost entirely good? A time where you get to simply enjoy the fact that this player is on your team and think about the possibilities?
Welcome to the preseason.
For one, this is when the team hammers you with endearing content about the player in question. They’ll have him do that obligatory selfie video from the team Twitter account, he’ll attend a local baseball game and he’ll try the local delicacy. Maybe he’ll even receive his first paycheck without state income tax.
After the off-ice stuff, you’ll get your first look at how the player actually fits on your team. The coach will be reluctant to give any of his returning core significant time on the ice (more on that later). But the coaching staff will play the heck out of the new star, and it’ll give you some unique insight into the team’s thought process.
They’ll likely roll him out on several lines to get a feel for multiple scenarios, and you should remember all of those line combinations because they will be the go-to options in a month or two if the new star starts slumping.
But hey, no need to worry about a slump yet. Just sit back and enjoy your shiny, new addition for a while.
Don't overanalyze the ice time for star players
When covering the Carolina Hurricanes, a player once asked me if I was traveling for an upcoming preseason game. I said, "I think I'm sitting the preseason out." The player laughed, pointed to Sebastian Aho and said, "So is he.”
Don’t get it twisted—Aho is one of the most competitive players in the league. But there are several things at work here, and all of them are more important than winning a game that doesn’t count.
MORRISVILLE, NC - JANUARY 05: Carolina Hurricanes left wing Sebastian Aho (20) smiles during the Carolina Hurricanes Training Camp on January 5th, 2021 at Wake Competition Center in Morrisville, NC. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Don’t expect your favorite players to get much ice time during preseason games, and if they do, don’t freak out if they’re mailing it in.
1. Whereas the coaches need to see where the new star fits in, they generally know what they have in the returning stars. The NHL season is a grind, and you want to avoid fatigue as much as you possibly can.
2. You also want to avoid unnecessary injuries and wear and tear, especially if your team is expected to make the playoffs. Is anything more unnecessary than a preseason injury suffered because Tommy Tough Guy from the ECHL is trying to make a name for himself and goes after your star player?
3. The name of the preseason game for the core group is conditioning. When playoff overtime comes around, the training camp bag skates will be far more valuable than your top players skating circles around Tommy Tough Guy.
Do get unreasonably attached to a fourth-liner you didn't know existed a week ago
Think about your team’s depth chart—at this point, the open spaces are probably toward the bottom. The team spent the offseason addressing major needs, and now it’s time to let the two-way contracts and PTOs fight it out for the remaining spots.
Preseason is more fun when you’re invested in a storyline, and everyone loves an underdog. Now is the time to do some research on the fringe players. Maybe one has a really cute dog, or he went to your college, or he’s a Scorpio. It doesn’t matter! Find that random connection and root for him like this is a season of American (or should we say Canadian) Idol.
And don’t fret if your favorite character of the preseason gets sent down to the AHL. If he was one of the last remaining fringe players on the roster—and he can kill a penalty or two—he’ll be back when the injury bug appears.
Don't rush the star prospect
Yes, it’s a good sign when the roster starts dwindling down and the 18-to-20-year-old first-round prize is still with the main club. Yes, it’s also a good sign when he tucks in a few goals during the preseason games.
No, it doesn’t mean that he will or should make the opening-night roster.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JULY 07: Shane Wright poses for a portrait after being selected fourth overall by the Seattle Kraken during the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 07, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
There are exceptions to this rule every year, especially in this era of skill and speed. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with patience and development. Think of it this way: Would you rather a player expected to play a significant role on your team be too ready or not ready enough?
The harm of rushing a player to the NHL is significantly worse than the harm of an extra development season 99.9 percent of the time—especially considering the past few years, where players were navigating COVID-19 restrictions and had seasons cut short.
I know it’s tempting to call for the coach’s head when he sends your favorite prospect back to Junior, and you might be right that the player is ready. But most of the time—especially on a contender—the risk outweighs the benefit.
Do pay attention to special teams
If you’re a seasoned hockey fan looking for a more advanced focus headed into the season—or if you just want to sound smart—special teams are for you. The coaches (hopefully) spent the summer digging into nitty-gritty film and attending a few conferences.
Read up on various power-play strategies (the Umbrella, the Overload, the 1-3-1) and pay attention to why and when coaches deploy them. Take a look at the personnel on each unit and how the coaches decide to swap them out. Become an expert at left- and right-handedness. It’s much easier to focus on this now than halfway through the season, and you will be able to provide insight and suggestions far superior to “fire the power-play coach.”
Don't let anyone tell you how to be a fan
A Colorado Avalanche fan holds up a replica of the Stanley Cup during a rally outside the City/County Building for the NHL hockey champions after a parade through the streets of downtown Thursday, June 30, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The worst part of the preseason is actually the know-it-alls who tell you that it doesn’t matter. Life is short, and hockey is the best. If the preseason makes you happy, it matters. There isn’t a correct way to be a fan.
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Evander Kane, Sharks Settle Grievance over Contract Termination
Sep 16, 2022
CALGARY, AB - MAY 26: Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers in action against the Calgary Flames during Game Five of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 26, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Oilers defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime to win the series four games to one. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
Evander Kane and the San Jose Sharks have settled the grievance the NHL Players' Association filed last season on his behalf over the termination of his contract, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.
"The agreement has been approved by the NHL and the NHL Players' Association," the Sharks said in a statement. "We are satisfied that its terms will not adversely impact the team, either financially or competitively, in this or future seasons."
The Sharks terminated what was left of Kane's seven-year, $49 million contract in January, citing a "breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of the AHL COVID-19 protocols"
At the time, Kane was in the fourth year of that contract, which paid him $7 million annually. He was due $19 million for the last three years of his contract, per Wyshynski.
An NHL source told Wyshynski that the settlement "is expected to bridge the gap between the money owed Kane by the Sharks and the money he's making on his new deal with the [Edmonton] Oilers."
Following his termination, Kane signed a one-year deal to join the Oilers and recently agreed to a four-year, $20.5 million contract extension in July. The left wing notched 22 goals and 17 assists in 43 games in his first season with the team.
Kane's divorce with the Sharks was somewhat expected because of a number of issues that arose during his tenure.
The NHL opened an investigation into the 31-year-old after his estranged wife, Anna Kane, accused him in August 2021 of placing bets on NHL games and said he would intentionally throw games to win money.
The league announced a month later that it found no evidence that those claims were true.
As training camp opened for the 2021-22 season, the NHL was also investigating domestic abuse allegations made by Anna Kane against him. The Sharks and Kane agreed that he would not take part in training camp while the investigation was ongoing.
The NHL announced that October it found no evidence to support Anna Kane's claims of domestic abuse.
That same month, Kane was investigated again for allegedly submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. After concluding its investigation, the NHL announced a 21-game suspension for the veteran.
After Kane served his suspension, he was placed on waivers and sent to the AHL's San Jose Barracuda.
The Vancouver native began his NHL career with the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) in 2009 after being drafted fourth overall. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 before he was dealt to the Sharks in 2018.
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