In the past few years, the NHL has seen contract values and annual averages rise significantly. Next season, however, two superstars may even threaten to cause more chaos. Defensemen are valuable in the NHL, but defensemen who can drive an offense and change a team are insanely important. Two defenseman, among the best in the sport, could demand massive deals, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes.
Could Hughes and Makar make the maximum salary?
Over the last couple of seasons, the NHL has raised its salary cap. The reason is that the game has become more popular, and players are increasingly seeking large sums of money. Right now, the maximum money a player can make per season is 20.8 million. The player closest to this is now Leo Carlsson, who got an insane 5-year deal worth $18M AAV after an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers. The idea of over 20 million in a season still seems insane, but one must wonder: can Makar and Hughes make that much in a season? Especially after they have proven to be insanely good.
Makar remains a great defender and an offensive force, having recorded two 90-point seasons in his career. His 2024-25 season saw him score 30 goals and add 62 assists, for an insane 92 points. Makar still scored 20 goals and added 59 assists (79 points) in this last season. Makar, like Hughes, is entering his last season of a six-year deal and could demand a ton of money. Hughes, meanwhile, also had a 92-point season, scoring 17 goals and adding 75 assists in the 2023-24 season. For the 2025-26 season for both the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild, Hughes still scored 7 goals and added 69 assists (76 points). Hughes, 26, like Makar, is very valuable and could demand a lot of money.
Both the Wild and Colorado Avalanche both will look to keep their superstar defenseman. For the Utah Mammoth, it is interesting to note that they have multiple young superstars signed long-term for a very small amount of money compared to what these players will demand. And also interesting will be seeing who can contend for these two if they aren't re-signed.
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