Each Atlantic Division team's best contract

Which player has the best contract on each Atlantic Division team?

In a salary cap league like the NHL, every dollar counts. Some teams have gone above and beyond the norm, signing players to an absolute robbery of a contract. Here are the best contracts in the Atlantic Division.

To make things fair, there are no entry level deals on this list. Those obviously are terrific bargains. And, as you’ll notice, these players are all terrific players.

Boston Bruins – Brad Marchand 8 years/$6.1 million per

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Brad Marchand signed an eight-year extension with the Boston Bruins two years ago. Before signing, the highest single-season point total in his career was 61 points. Since the deal, he has recorded 85 points in both seasons.

His ability to up great numbers while constantly playing against the other team’s best players is remarkable and the way he gets under his opponent’s skin is an added bonus. Marchand plays both on the powerplay and penalty kill and averages almost 20 minutes a night. For such a useful player, this is a really good deal.

Buffalo Sabres – Carter Hutton 3 years/$2.75 million per

The Buffalo Sabres didn’t have solid goaltending behind them and with the signing of Carter Hutton during free agency, their fortunes might change. Hutton is coming off a strong year with the St. Louis Blues. In 32 games played, he had a .931 save percentage and a .209 goals against average. All of which are career-best numbers.

This is his first shot at a starter position and he signed a 3-year deal worth 2.75 million dollars per season. Both the term and money are great because he needs some time to adjust to the heavier workload and if it doesn’t work out, he can become a slightly expensive backup.

Detroit Red Wings – Anthony Mantha

2 years/$3.3 million per

Anthony Mantha is 23 years old and is a part of the Detroit Red Wings‘ attempt to revitalize their team with talented youth. He has a two-year deal for 3.3 million dollars per and considering his point production that’s pretty good. Last season, he played 80 games and had 24 goals and 24 assists.

We haven’t seen the best of him yet and considering how much he’s getting paid, it’s a total steal.

Florida Panthers – Aleksander Barkov 6 years/$5.9 million per

By a mile, Aleksander Barkov has the best contract on the Florida Panthers. A six-year deal and $5.9 million a season for such a talented player is a crime.

in 2017-2018, he had a career-best 78 points in 79 games played. He recorded 27 goals and 51 assists and lead the Panthers in points and lead the forwards in ice time (22:04). He’s one of the best two-way centers in the league and makes less than 6 million dollars. How. For such a useful and dangerous player AND he’s only 22 years old, this is a ridiculous deal.

Montreal Canadiens – Max Pacioretty 6 years/$4.5 million per

For all the flack he gets with the Montreal Canadiens, their captain still produces like a maniac while on a six-year, $4.5 million per year deal. Max Pacioretty led all Habs forwards in ice time (19 minutes) and in 64 games played, he had 17 goals and 20 assists.

There isn’t much left to say about him considering he’s most likely going to be traded soon, but whichever team gets him gets one year left of a wicked deal.

Ottawa Senators – Erik Karlsson 7 years/$6.5 million per

I will keep this one brief because this one is obvious. $6.5 million a year for one of the best defensemen in the entire league? No fair. Erik Karlsson played 71 games last season and was still tied for first on the Ottawa Senators in scoring with 62 points. He leads the entire team in time on ice (26:44) and is an absolute workhorse.

All that for less than 7 million dollars is insane.

Tampa Bay Lightning – Nikita Kucherov 3 years/$4.7 million per

Earlier this summer, Nikita Kucherov signed an extension worth $9.5 million per season but that doesn’t kick in until 2019-2020. Currently, he is being paid $4.7 million per season. This is a guy who recorded 100 points in 80 games at the age of 25. He is a part of the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s dangerous powerplay and finished third in the league in scoring behind only Connor McDavid and Claude Giroux.

His ability to produce in unmatched and all that for 4.7 million dollars is just unfair.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Nazem Kadri 6 years/$4.5 million per

Two seasons ago, Nazem Kadri signed a 6-year deal worth $4.5 million per year. At the time, it seemed pretty reasonable since he was projected to have 20 goals a season and to be a second-third line center. After that contract was signed, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock gave him the shutdown role and he scored 32 goals in each season since.

Next: 5 best fits for Max Pacioretty

Not only does he play against the toughest opponents every night, but he produces like a top line center. He has been getting better at faceoffs and is really relishing his role as a huge pest. For less than 5 million dollars, Kadri’s deal is an absolute steal.

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