Leo Carlsson signing an $18 million-per-year offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers that was subsequently matched by the Anaheim Ducks has changed the contract landscape around the NHL.

Combine that with the expectation that the salary cap will continue to rise, perhaps substantially, and more big-time money will be thrown around moving forward.

The world’s best player, Connor McDavid, is currently the seventh-highest-paid player in the league, but the short-term extension he signed with the Edmonton Oilers means he’ll be due up again soon, and the guys on Spittin’ Chiclets believe he’ll land a deal the likes of which we’ve never seen before in the NHL.

Ryan Whitney first brought up the possibility of McDavid getting $23 million per year.

“McDavid realistically should be getting $23 million a year,”

Paul Bissonnette then came back with eight years at $25 million per season for the first-ever $200 million contract.

“I think it’ll be, I think McDavid could get a $200 million deal. Eight times 25, all signing bonus, I think he’s gonna get it,”

The 29-year-old McDavid is, of course, about to enter the first year of the two-year, $25 million contract extension he signed with the Oilers in October. He will be extension-eligible again come July 1, 2027.

It should be noted that players can no longer sign eight-year contracts under the new CBA that came into effect in September. That said, McDavid will be able to extend for seven years, which at $23-$25 million per season would still result in the largest contract in NHL history — barring anyone else breaking the bank before then.

COVID-19 forced the salary cap to stand still for some time, and the hockey world became used to it. Things have changed, however, and everyone is going to have to alter their viewpoints because contract values are only going to keep skyrocketing in the years to come.

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