Nathan Mackinnon reportedly gunning for the highest price tag in NHL history

With the start of the 2022-2023 season looming, the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup tour is going to begin to slow and eventually halt. Although it was certainly a well deserved celebration, it's time for the Avs to defend their title. This season comes with another challenge for the Avalanche and that's re-signing superstar forward Nathan Mackinnon. With expiring contracts like Bowen Byram, Erik Johnson, Alex Newhook and J.T Compher, GM Chris MacFarland may have to get creative to pay his number one forward.

According to Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now, Nathan Mackinnon is looking to become the highest paid player in the NHL come 2023, which really doesn't sound as bad considering his leadership on and off the ice. He was one of the main reasons the Avs won the Stanley Cup this year.


Since being drafted first overall in 2013, Mackinnon has been an absolute monster for the Avs. In his nine seasons with the Avalanche, he has contributed a total of 242 goals and 406 assists for a total of 648 points in 638 games. His breakout season didn't come until the 2017-18 season where the 2020 Lady Byng winner had a huge year amassing 39 goals and collecting 58 assists for a total of 97 points. Since then, it has been near impossible to stop him.


Now, there is still a lot of time between now and next year's off-season that we could see big Nate agree to take a moderate deal in order to win more Cups with his team. It's also something he said he'd do in 2019. A lot has changed since 2019 and perhaps trying to convince a player of MacKinnon's caliber to take yet another team-friendly deal will be a taller task than most might expect.

So much for "I'd take less again".