Here are the five most lucrative contracts in NHL history – TVA Sports

With the signing of an eight-year, $112 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, forward Leon Draisaitl made a spectacular entry into the ranking of the most lucrative deals in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Even though he is the only active player to have a pact of less than 10 years, but more than $100 million, the German is not the one who signed the most lucrative contract since the creation of the Bettman circuit.

• Also read: Leon Draisaitl is the highest paid player in the NHL

A look back at the five most expensive deals in NHL history.

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1- Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals de Washington, 124 millions $

After three very successful first seasons, the Washington Capitals offered a real golden bridge in January 2008 to winger Alexander Ovechkin, only 22 years old at the time. The two sides thus agreed on the clauses of a 13-year, $124 million contract. No player has ever signed such an expensive agreement, but we bet that the club from the American capital does not regret in any way all this money spent on its Russian jewel.

In 1,426 career games, the Moscow native has had nine seasons of 50 or more goals, and has collected 1,550 points. He has also won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2018, nine Maurice Richards and three Harts.

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2- Leon Draisaitl, Oilers d’Edmonton, 112 millions $

It must be said that the third overall pick in the 2014 draft did not steal this contract. Draisaitl established himself, with his sidekick Connor McDavid, as the catalyst of the Oilers’ attack and the numbers are there to prove it. In addition to having obtained the Hart Trophy in 2019-2020, awarded to the most valuable player to his team, he totaled 347 goals and 503 assists for 850 points in 719 games.

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3- Shea Weber, Predators de Nashville, 110 millions $

Even though he never played for them, defenseman Shea Weber can thank the Philadelphia Flyers for making him one of the richest skaters in the NHL. In July 2012, the Pennsylvania club submitted a 14-year, $110 million offer sheet to the former Montreal Canadiens captain, who agreed to sign it.

However, the Nashville Predators, his club at the time, matched the offer, and Weber remained in Tennessee. Although he never won the Norris Trophy, awarded to the league’s top defenseman, Weber was long considered one of the best defensemen of his generation, particularly known for his devastating shot.

The player who reached the Stanley Cup final with the Montreal Canadiens in 2021 has had three campaigns of more than 20 goals.

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4- Sidney Crosby, Penguins de Pittsburgh, 104,4 millions $

Here’s another player who is well deserving of such a hefty sum. Forward Sidney Crosby, arguably the best player of the 21st century, signed a 12-year, $104.4 million contract in 2013 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team that drafted him first overall in the 2005 draft.

Three Stanley Cups, two Conn-Smythes, two Maurice-Richards and two Harts later, let’s just say the Pens must be completely satisfied with this signing. In fact, Crosby is looking for a new deal, since the one he’s currently on will end at the end of the 2024-2025 season.

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5- Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils, $102 million

This is certainly the craziest contract in history. Forward Ilya Kovalchuk, who also wore the CH jersey for a few games in 2020, signed a 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils in 2010 that only lasted… two days. The NHL rejected the contract, judging that it did not comply with the rules of the collective agreement.

Ultimately, the Devils and Kovalchuk settled on a $100 million, 15-year deal. However, three seasons later, the former Atlanta Thrasher surprised everyone by announcing his retirement to return to play in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, leaving $77 million in the closet.

He finally made a return to the NHL in 2018 with the Los Angeles Kings, but his California adventure lasted only a season and a half, as he saw the club send him to waivers in order to terminate his three-year, $18.7 million contract in December 2019.

Kovalchuk, however, had a more than accomplished career, amassing 443 goals and 433 assists for 876 points in 926 games.

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