NHL: Each Pacific Division team’s best bargain contract

In a league with a hard salary cap, bargain contracts are the key to prolonged success. Here are the best contracts that each NHL team in the Pacific Division can boast.

Since the NHL has a hard cap, value is everything. You need to get a lot of value out of your contracts if you want to optimize your chances of winning the Stanley Cup. The Pacific Division is a mixed bag so some teams have a “great” contract that wouldn’t be considered one on other teams.

This list does not include entry-level contracts because those are obvious. By definition, pretty much any ELC is a huge bargain, even after factoring in bonuses. Which player on each Pacific Division team has the best contract? Let’s take a look.

Anaheim Ducks – Rickard Rakell 6 years/$3.7 million per year

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Rickard Rakell‘s production has been on a steady rise and this season, he led the Anaheim Ducks in points with 69 points (34 goals and 35 assists). At 24 years old, he will be locked up during his prime and is the best contract the Ducks. Last season, he crushed his previous shot totals by recording 230 shots on net. Rakell plays on the first line and averages over 19 minutes a night. He still has room for development but to have him at such a low price will be great for the Ducks.

Arizona Coyotes – Oliver Ekman-Larsson 6 years/$5.5 million per year

Oliver Ekman-Larsson signed an eight-year, $8.25 million extension in the summer, but currently, he still has a year left on his gem of a contract.

At the age of 26, he’s already considered a top defenseman in the league and to be paid only $5.5 million. He finished fourth on the Arizona Coyotes in points with 42 points (14 goals and 28 assists) and lead all skaters in ice time playing over 23 minutes a night. He is one of the pillars the Coyotes are built on and to only be paid 5.5 million is ridiculous.

Calgary Flames – Johnny Gaudreau 6 years/$6.7 million per year

Johnny Gaudreau led the Calgary Flames in points and it wasn’t even close. He had 84 points, 20 more than the next player and had 24 goals and 60 assists. He plays on the first line, the first powerplay unit, and it the guy the Flames count on when they need a goal.

Gaudreau is only 24 years old and to have a contract that goes right through his prime. For such a premium player, this is a great contract for the Flames.

Edmonton Oilers – Cam Talbot 3 years/$4.1 million per year

One look at the Edmonton Oilers Cap Friendly page and I almost did a double take. That team does not have any bargain contracts other than Cam Talbot‘s. He has a career .914 save percentage and is the backbone of the Oilers. Connor McDavid can score all the goals he wants, but as last season showed us if Talbot isn’t himself, none of it matters.

Two seasons ago, he played 73 games and lead all NHL goalies in games played. Last season, he tied for most games played with Connor Hellebuyk with 67. The Oilers rely on him heavily because they have no trustworthy backup and as shown by last season, they desperately need him to always be in top form. Edmonton is wringing all the value out of Tabot with his $4.1 million deal.

Los Angeles Kings – Drew Doughty 7 years/$7 million per year

Drew Doughty is widely considered one of the best defensemen in the NHL and to only make 7 million dollars is a steal for a world-class player. For the past four seasons, his point totals have never dipped under 40 and he has not missed a game since 2014. For his career, he averages over 26 minutes a night which shows how much he means to the Los Angeles Kings. He is the backbone of the Kings’ squad and plays in literally every situation imaginable.

Next summer, his new extension worth $11 million a season will kick in but until then, his contract is one of the best bargains considering all he brings to the table.

San Jose Sharks – Tomas Hertl 4 years/$5.6 million per year

At 24 years old, Tomas Hertl slowly establishing himself as a solid utility player. “His capability to play both center and the wing gives our team some flexibility,” said San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, via Sportsnet. “And he has one of the most infectious personalities in our dressing room. We’re excited he made this commitment to our organization.”

Not only does he play both wing and center, he plays on the power play and the penalty kill as well. In the playoffs, he led the Sharks in goals (6) and saw his ice time increase to over 20 minutes. A player this useful that’s about to enter his prime is a great contract for the Sharks.

Vancouver Canucks – Jacob Markstrom 3 years/$3.6 million per year

Last season was Markstrom’s first shot at being a number one goalie. Considering that he tripled his previous workload, his numbers are really good. He had a .912 save percentage in 60 games played and had a 23-26-7 record on a second to last place Vancouver Canucks team.

Markstrom is 28 years old and has two years left on his contract and is already starting to show his ability to be a starter. As he continues to grow, the contract will continue to look better for the Canucks.

Vegas Golden Knights – Colin Miller 4 years/$3.8 million per year

Last season, Colin Miller exploded onto the scene with the Vegas Golden Knights. After two mediocre seasons with the Bruins, he scored 10 goals and had 31 assists for a career-high 41 points. Miller played every regular season game with the Golden Knights as well as the playoffs, averaging over 19 minutes a night. Such a young, talented player for less than four million dollars is one of the reasons why Vegas has over 13 million dollars in projected cap space.