The Colorado Avalanche's contract with Nathan MacKinnon should prove to be a
steal of a deal whose value ensures the All-Star will play with a skilled team
long into Colorado's future. One might even say his contract puts money in the
Avalanche';s bank.What Makes MacKinnon's Contract Important?

MacKinnon epitomizes the player of the NHL future. He's young - just
22-years-old - and he already has five years of NHL experience. He's also
growing into his position as the center on the Avalanche's top line. He
continues to develop his skillset, delivering on the hopes from his promising
start.

MacKinnon was the first selection in the 2013 draft and went on to win the
Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie the following year. Since then, despite
the Avalanche's tumultuous efforts to rebuild, MacKinnon has gone onto become a
 two-time All-Star and was named a finalist this past season for both the Ted
Lindsay Award (for outstanding player) and the Hart Trophy (for player most
valuable to his team).MacKinnon showcasing All-Star talent (Isaiah J.
Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

This past year, MacKinnon racked up a career high 97 points from personal bests
 of 39 goals and 58 assists, averaging an impressive 1.31 points per game. As
"Nate the Great" continues to develop his game, his value moves from a
reasonable deal to a steal.

MacKinnon is signed through 2022-2023 to a team friendly annual average value
(AAV) of $6.3 million, for a player still developing into a dominant force on
the ice. He is locked up for an equitable dollar amount as he moves into his
prime.

But the contract looks even better when one considers what other players of his
 caliber are earning. There are a number of different ways to evaluate a
player's contract so it's best to analyze value from several different
angles.How Does MacKinnon's Contract Compare to Other Number Ones?

First, consider how MacKinnon stands up to other players chosen first in the
draft.

2009 - John Tavares just signed a seven-year deal for $11 million AAV.2010 -
Taylor Hall is in the final two years of his $6 million AAV contract.2011 -
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has three years remaining on a $6 million AAV deal.2012 -
Nail Yakupov couldn't find the right fit in the NHL and headed to the KHL this
summer.2013 - Nathan MacKinnon has five years left on a $6.3 million AAV
contract.2014 -  Aaron Ekblad will earn $7.5 million AAV through the 2024-2025
 season.2015 - Connor McDavid is just starting a $12.5 million AAV contract
that runs for eight years

Nathan Mackinnon worth every penny (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Three players earn more than MacKinnon, two earn $300,000 a year less on
shorter terms and one is no longer in the NHL. So far, MacKinnon's $6.3 million
 is looking pretty reasonable, especially for the longer term on his deal. But
that's just the beginning.MacKinnon Leads His Draft Class in Points and Salary

Looking at first picks in the draft is only part of the picture. For example,
John Tavares has four more years of experience than MacKinnon and was just a
year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent when he signed his contract
this summer. Likewise, Auston Matthews is still on his entry-level contract so
he earns the league maximum. One needs to go further.Nathan MacKinnon leads his
 draft class (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The next step involves looking into how MacKinnon ranks compared to other
members from the 2013 draft class. For the purposes of fairness, only the top
five centers selected in 2013 are included. The list contains the player's
name, their salary (based on AAV), duration, and total career points earned to
date.

Nathan MacKinnon - $6.3 - term 2022-2023 - points 303Alexander Barkov - $5.9 -
term 2021-2022 - points 249Jonathan Drouin - $5.5 - term 2022-2023 - points
141Elias Lindholm - $4.85 - term 2023-2024 - points 188Sean Monahan - $6.375 -
term 2023-2024 - points 281

While Monahan earns a wee bit more, he's the only one near MacKinnon in points.
 MacKinnon, however, has earned 22 more points in 19 fewer games. So far,
MacKinnon's contract still looks like a good value compared to others in his
draft class. But wait, there's more.MacKinnon's Value Shines Among Point
Leaders

The first two comparisons involved how MacKinnon compared to other players
based on draft class and draft selection. But there's more to a hockey player's
 career than just where they were drafted. What really matters, and what most
teams and fans consider, concerns how the player performs on the ice.

Prior to last year, MacKinnon averaged in the low to mid-50's for his yearly
point total (excluding playoffs). Other notable players who have consistently
scored in that range include Jack Eichel (earning $10 million AAV), Ryan
O'Reilly ($7.5 million AAV), Logan Couture (who signed an $8 million AAV
extension), James Van Riemsdyk ($7 million AAV) and former teammate Matt
Duchene (entering the final year of his $6 million AAV contract).

In comparison to those players, MacKinnon's contract looks like a getting a
Mercedes Benz for the price of a Toyota Corolla. Only one player earns less
(Duchene) and he's in the final year of his deal while MacKinnon is signed
through the next five years. However, evaluating only fifty point players'
salaries falls short in the case of Nathan MacKinnon.Nathan MacKinnon shows
value at all levels (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

MacKinnon had a breakout season last year. His 97 points in 2017-2018 put him
in fifth place among point leaders, during a high scoring year.  Had MacKinnon
 scored his 97 points in any of the previous four seasons, it would have
propelled him to first or second place in the rankings. MacKinnon should be
able to come near those totals again as his line developed into one of the more
 dominant forward combinations over the course of the season. It's one of the
advantages of having a young player who is still evolving - the best is yet to
come.

Compared to last year's point leaders, MacKinnon's contract really begins to
stand out. Players are listed in order of total scoring along with their age in
 brackets, followed by their contract amount (using AAV) and duration.

Connor McDavid (21)- $12.5 million through 2025-2026Claude Giroux (30)- $8.275
million through 2021-2022Nikita Kucherov (25) - $9.5 million through
2026-2027Evgeni Malkin (32) - $9.5 million through 2021-2022Nathan MacKinnon
(22) - $6.3 million through 2022-2023Taylor Hall (26) - $6 million through
2019-2020Phil Kessel (30) - $8 million through 2021-2022Anze Kopitar (30) - $10
 million through 2023-2024

Note that only two of the point leaders are under the age of 25. With their
youth, McDavid and MacKinnon should be able to set the standard for years to
come. Also, only one of the top eight earn less than MacKinnon - Taylor Hall -
and his contract expires in two years. But wait, there's still more.MacKinnon
Brings Value to Cost Per Point Breakdown

Cap Friendly provides an interesting breakdown from last season based on the
players' cost per point. Comparing MacKinnon to some of the more interesting
names in hockey adds another level of insight. Based on last year's contract
numbers, MacKinnon's deal looks like even better.Nathan MacKinnon fights off
contenders for cost per point breakdown (Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports)

(The smattering of players listed below all scored 50 or more points during the
 season and are under contract for the same salary for the upcoming year.
Players on entry-level contracts were omitted from this list as they are all
under a league-mandated maximum salary limit.)

PLAYER- DOLLAR PER POINTSean Couturier - $58,559Taylor Hall - $64,516Nathan
MacKinnon - $66,316Kyle Turris - $70,000James Van Riemsdyk - $78,704Evgeny
Kuznetsov - $95,122Sidney Crosby - $97,753Sean Monahan - $99,609Mark Scheifele
- $102,083Matt Duchene - $103,448Anze Kopitar - $108,696Vladimir Tarasenko -
$113,636Leon Draisaitl - $123,188Ryan O'Reilly - $125,000Paul Stastny -
$132,075Patrick Kane - $140,000Jonathan Toews - $201,92

On a cost per point value, Hall and MacKinnon are in a class of their own.
MacKinnon is also cost-effective for the long haul and is a third of the cost
per point of Toews. Can anyone question whether the Avalanche are getting a
good return for their investment? But wait…there's even more.Colorado Owns
Cap Room For the Future

Colorado will need to extend a lot of their players in the next year. The
Avalanche currently have five players on their roster who are entering the
final year of their entry-level contracts (ELCs), including MacKinnon's Finnish
 linemate Mikko Rantanen. At least six more prospects vying for a starting spot
 have deals that will expire at the end of the season. Promising defenseman
Nikita Zadorov will also need a new contract at the end of the year, which will
 likely include a raise.Nathan MacKinnon';s contract leaves room to re-sign
teammates (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Currently, only four teams have more cap room than Colorado. While the
Avalanche currently have a full roster with over $12 million in cap space
remaining, they will need that room to sign their rising stars at the end of
the year. MacKinnon's team friendly contract provides Colorado with flexibility
 to keep the players they want without having to make questionable trades to
create cap space. MacKinnon's contract is the gift that keeps on giving.

Putting MacKinnon's contract into perspective, the Avalanche secured a quality
player at below market rate, affording the team the room to build, keep and
acquire the talent for a competitive future. Colorado made a reasonable deal
with MacKinnon at the time of his signing. However, MacKinnon's elevated play
turned the contract into a steal the team can leverage for future success. Not
only did the MacKinnon contract provide good monetary value for the skill
acquired - money in the bank, it left room to stock the talent pool. Who could
ask for more?

 

The post Nathan MacKinnon: Money in the Bank for Colorado Avalanche appeared
first on The Hockey Writers.

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