The market has changed for so many players in the National Hockey League. A rising salary cap means players at every position are seeing their salaries rise. Now we can all point to Leo Carlsson and his $18 million AAV or Macklin Celebrini and his $18.8 million AAV, or Cale Makar and his $20.4 million AAV, but for players like Simon Edvinsson of the Detroit Red Wings and Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes, all they have to do is look at Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe and say thank you.
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Before Bowen Byram hit $12.5 million AAV with the Chicago Blackhawks, LaCombe and Hughes both signed contracts that carried $9 million AAVs. Many thought once those were signed, a player like Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens would get over $10 million. He did not, coming in at an $8.85 million AAV. Everyone knows Hutson could have gotten more, but it is about the team in Montreal.
However, with Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe being the high watermark coming out of entry level, there is a reason why Zeev Buium got a $9.38 million AAV over the next eight years from the Vancouver Canucks, teams have to pay for talent.
Even before that contract was signed, Brandt Clarke of the Los Angeles Kings signed a contract with a $7.4 million AAV. Soon after, Pavel Mintyukov signed a contract with an AAV of $7.2 million with the Anaheim Ducks, and Simon Nemec signed a contract with an AAV of $7.25 million with the Calgary Flames.
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These numbers were some of the comparables for Simon Edvinsson and Alexander Nikishkin, along with Brock Faber ($8.25 million), Owen Power ($8.35 million), and K’Andre Miller ($8.5 million). But again, even these numbers are outdated given how much the market has moved in a year.
Projections are for Edvinsson on a long-term deal, with him coming in around the $8.7 million mark on an AAV. Edvinsson’s teammate Moritz Seider has an AAV of $8.55 million. Will the Detroit Red Wings want Edvinsson to surpass Seider in terms of AAV? We know the Red Wings like to operate with an internal cap.
Given that, it is surprising Edvinsson wasn’t given an offer sheet. Now, he may not want to leave Detroit, but it’s been all quiet on the Western Front in these negotiations. However, whoever is running the show will need to decide what he gets. Maybe they have already, with interim Shawn Horcoff in charge at the moment. But Simon Edvinsson’s price has gone up.
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As for Alexander Nikishin, he has stood his ground on wanting $8 million a season. GM Eric Tulsky has been weighing all of his options, including trading the defenseman. As with Edvinsson, the contract is comparable to Mintyukov, Nemec, and Clarke, given how the Carolina Hurricanes like to keep salaries low.
Remember, the Hurricanes didn’t go to $9 million to keep Dougie Hamilton for a reason. Jaacob Slavin is at $6.39 million a season, while Sebastian Aho is the highest-paid player on the team at $9.75 million a season. Is 33 points (11 goals and 22 assists) in 81 games worth over $8 million a season?
Well, Nikishin’s agent will look at Buium and say he had 26 points (six goals and 20 assists) and just got $9.38 million a season. So the Hurricanes have a decision to make. Again, as mentioned, Nikishin’s name has come up in trade talks. The Carolina Hurricanes have another Martin Necas situation on their hands.
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However, to be fair to the players, the market is changing. Everyone saw this coming. The goalposts have been moved on long-term deals. If either player is going to sign for eight years, they need to do so before September 15th. After that, they can only sign for seven years with their current club and six years as an unrestricted free agent with another club.
If one had to guess, Simon Edvinsson would be the guy who signs long-term in Detroit, while Alexander Nikishin signs a short-term deal before moving on to another team. Regardless, their value has gone up on their next contracts, given where the marketplace has gone.
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