Nathan MacKinnon is Reportedly Seeking to be the NHL's Highest Paid Player

According to Adrian Dater of CHN, Nathan MacKinnon is reportedly seeking to become the highest paid player in the NHL. MacKinnon plays on a discount $6.3 million dollar deal right now, and having been among the NHL's best for the last few seasons, he is due for a major raise.

In 65 games for the Avalanche last season, MacKinnon scored 88 points, then added 24 points in 20 playoff games en route to their Stanley Cup victory. The Avs' alternate captain is one of the NHL's top players, so if he wants to get paid like one it is only his right. As most of us know, however, the secret to winning is diligently managing the salary cap, and no player has ever won the Stanley Cup and made $10+ million at the same time.

Becoming the NHL's highest paid player means taking home at least $12,500,001 every season, one dollar higher than the NHL's current leader in that regard; Connor McDavid. MacKinnon doesn't score quite like McDavid, but that Stanley Cup rings pretty loudly during contract negotiations.

So if MacKinnon does, indeed, want to become the NHL's highest paid player, that would put GM Chris MacFarland and President Joe Sakic in a tight spot. Colorado only has ~$57 million committed after the 2022-23 season, when MacKinnon's current contract expires, spread out over 12 players. That means that MacFarland will have roughly $26 million to sign 11 players, and if MacKinnon commands ~$13 million, that is $13 million left over to sign 10 players.

Sakic and company face a difficult decision here, assuming Dater's reporting is true. One on hand, pay MacKinnon the biggest bag in NHL history and on the other, let the franchise talent walk to free agency. An unenviable position, to be sure.

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