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History was made over the weekend, as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar became the first NHL player to be signed to a contract that pays him a yearly salary of over $20 million.
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Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner and former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, inked a eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension that will pay him $20.4 million a season when the deal takes effect in 2027.
That being said, Makar’s massive new extension only underscores just how much of a bargain Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider’s contract is shaping up to be.
Seider, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2021-22, is coming off his best season yet. He set career highs in goals, assists, points and ice time while continuing his ironman streak of never missing a game.
He also finished fifth overall in balloting for the Norris Trophy while finishing 11th overall in balloting for the Hart Trophy, given annually to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player in regular season play.
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While Seider will never be as offensively flashy as Makar, he has firmly established himself as one of the NHL’s best and most effective defensemen, and is doing so while earning less than half of what Makar will make once his new extension takes effect.
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Seider, who was former GM Steve Yzerman’s first Draft selection in 2019, was re-signed to a seven-year, $59.85 million contract in September 2024. Seider’s salary cap hit is $8.55 million.
Moritz Seider Offers Measured Reaction To Major Red Wings Offseason Storylines
Moritz Seider Offers Measured Reaction To Major Red Wings Offseason Storylines Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider offered a diplomatic response to the two major storylines the club has faced so far this offseason following Dylan Larkin’s trade request and GM Steve Yzerman vacating his role.
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There are 21 NHL defensemen who will have a higher salary cap hit than Seider this season, including Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Evan Bouchard, Thomas Harley, Darnell Nurse, Roman Josi, and Drew Doughty.
While it was time for the Red Wings to move on from Yzerman as GM after seven straight seasons without making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there’s no denying that the extension he negotiated with Seider is proving to be one of the NHL’s best bargains given the value the defenseman brings to Detroit.
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