Nathan MacKinnon earned (and deserves) that raise; looking back at P.K. Subban-for-Shea Weber trade

Some thoughts on the big NHL news of the day....

Hello, let’s talk some hockey….

Nathan MacKinnon’s new contract

Tuesday was an absolute bonkers day for news around the NHL with the biggest development being the new eight-year, $100 million contract extension for Nathan MacKinnon with the Colorado Avalanche.

It does not start until the 2023-24 season as he still has one more year remaining on his current deal that pays him an average annual salary of $6.3 million.

Given how dominant MacKinnon has been over the past five years, and how much of a driving force he is for one of the league’s best teams (and its reigning Stanley Cup championship team) it is a laughably small salary and has made him one of the biggest steals in the league. That has been GREAT for the Avalanche and a big factor in their ability to build a monster of a team around him and the rest of the core.

Now that the Avalanche have been able to benefit from that, it is MacKinnon’s turn to get the better end of the deal.

He is.

Nobody should blame him for that or question it.