LAS VEGAS — Nathan MacKinnon‘s goal is to sign a new contract with the Colorado Avalanche as soon as possible and play the rest of his NHL career with the team that made him the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
MacKinnon is entering the final season of a seven-year, $44.1 million contract he signed on July 8, 2016. He can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, but it’s unlikely he gets to that point.
“I’d like to get it done, for sure, it’s no secret,” the center said Friday at the NHL North American Player Media Tour during an interview for the “NHL @TheRink” podcast. “I feel like we’re close and nothing to report, but I think the intentions are for both sides to get it done. That’s the main thing, not looking to play it out or anything. If I have to it will have to be with no distraction because it’s a lot.”
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MacKinnon told reporters on Thursday that he wants to have the new contract signed before the Avalanche start the season Oct. 12 against the Chicago Blackhawks at Ball Arena, where they will raise their 2021-22 Stanley Cup championship banner to the rafters.
“It’s a lot on your mind,” MacKinnon said. “I think about it a lot, my future, but my goal is to be an ‘Av’ for life.”
MacKinnon has been considered arguably the best value player in the NHL based on his level of production and salary cap charge ($6.3 million) in the first six seasons of his current contract.
He is eighth in goals (183), sixth in assists (312), and fifth in both points (495) and points per game (1.18) in the regular season since 2016-17, the first season playing on his current contract.
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The Avalanche have reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past five seasons and MacKinnon is first in goals (39), fifth in assists (44), second in points (83) and third in points per game (1.32) in the NHL. in that span.
“The deal I’ve been on at the time I signed was completely fair,” MacKinnon said. “No complaints at all, but you don’t want to be labeled as the most underpaid guy for your whole career. But I see some numbers out there of what I’m looking for, it’s not true, crazy numbers. But hopefully the deal that gets done people see as fair for both sides.”
MacKinnon said his goal is to one day be compared to Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Patrick Kane — all have remained top players in the NHL well into their 30s.
“I plan on being an elite player until [the contract] is over,” the 27-year-old said. “I look at Sid, Ovi, Malkin, Letang, these guys are 35, 36 years old and still elite players. Patrick Kane. Hopefully I’ll be that as well.”
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