Today we propose to get acquainted with Top 10 largest NHL contracts in 2012
Even people far from sports know that the highest paid hockey players play mostly in the NHL. Multimillion-dollar contracts are concluded for more than one year. Clubs get a player at their disposal for 7-10, or even 12-15 years.
Breaking such a contract is not easy - the penalty, as a rule, reaches enormous proportions. And, nevertheless, talented hockey players gladly surrender themselves to the power of the managers of the club that pays the most, because the career of a professional player is short.
Read also: Top 10 NHL contracts of 2019.
10.Marian Hossa, $ 68 million contract, 12 years
The Slovak forward has been playing for the Chicago club since 2009. By the way, the younger brother of striker Marcel Gossa is a hockey player of the Continental Hockey League.
9.Mike Richards, $ 69 million, 12 years
The contract was originally signed with Philadelphia, but was bought by the Los Angeles Kings. Last season Mike Richards won the Stanley Cup.
8. Duncan Keith, $ 72 million, 13 years
2010 Stanley Cup winner and 2010 Winter Olympics champion for the Canadian national team has been playing for the Chicago Blackhawks since 2005.
7.Henrik Zetterberg (Carl Henrik Zetterberg), $ 73 million, 12 years
Henk holds the titles of Olympic Champion, Stanley Cup Winner and World Champion. For the Detroit Red Wings, the Swede has been playing with a short break since 2002.
6. Vincent Lecavalier, $ 85 million, 11 years
The most expensive hockey contracts, as a rule, are concluded for a considerable period. Lecavalier's current contract is the shortest of the ten.
The deadline was likely based on the age of the 32-year-old captain and center-forward of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
5. Zachary Justin "Zach" Parise, $ 98 million, 13 years
“Attacking Zach” moved to Minnesota from the New Jersey Devils, where he played for the past 6 seasons.
4. Ryan Suter, $ 98 million, 13 years
Suter is a silver medalist at the 2010 Olympics with the US team. This year he moved to Minnesota from the Nashville Predators.
3. Ilya Kovalchuk, $ 100 million, 15 years
The most expensive hockey players, including two Russians, were in the top three of our Top-10. Kovalchuk plays for New Jersey as a super forward. Moreover, the club's management offered Ilya a contract for 17 years, but the NHL did not agree with such a period. As a result, the parties came to an agreement, securing Kovalchuk for New Jersey for 15 years.
2.Sidney Patrick Crosby, $ 104.4 million, 12 years
The largest NHL contract awarded this year will go into effect in the summer of 2013. By the way, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain's contract is not insured against early retirement. This means that Crosby will receive a solid salary until 2025, even if he cannot go on the ice.
1.Alexander Ovechkin, $ 124 million, term of 13 years
The most expensive contract was signed for a period until 2021 and brings "Alexander the Great" $ 9.5 million per season. It was Ovechkin's contract, signed in 2008, that became the first in the history of hockey to exceed the 100 million mark.Ovechkin has been with the Washington Capitals since 2005.