Rasmus Dahlin landed the fifth-highest defenseman deal in NHL history when he signed an eight-year, $88-million pact with the Buffalo Sabres in early October.
With Rasmus Dahlin finally signing his massive new contract extension on the eve of the NHL regular season, it's a good time to look back and compare his deal to other high-priced defensemen contracts over the years.
Here are the top 10 highest D-man deals in NHL history on record, with details including when and where the deal was signed, how much it was worth and the length of the contract.
Do the deals hold up to this day? Do the defensemen who signed them still perform to the level at which they got paid? Let’s see.
1. Nashville Predators sign Shea Weber to a 14-year, $110-million contract on July 24, 2012
To this day, Weber still boasts the largest contract ever signed by a defenseman. Weber initially had the contract offered to him as an offer sheet by the Philadelphia Flyers, and he accepted. But he was an RFA, so Nashville could match the deal – and that’s what the Predators did. Weber played in Nashville for the first four seasons of that contract, recording a season-high 56 points in 2013-14, before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens for P.K. Subban in June 2016. Weber eventually became the captain of the Habs as well and led the team to the Stanley Cup final in 2020-21. He hasn't played since and is currently on the long-term injured reserve with the Arizona Coyotes. His contract expires after the 2025-26 season.
2. Minnesota Wild sign Ryan Suter to a 13-year, $98-million contract on July 4, 2012
Sticking with the Predators, they drafted Suter seventh overall in the 2003 NHL draft. When he left in free agency nine years later, the Minnesota Wild decided it was time to break the bank on a defenseman whose highest finish in Norris Trophy voting to that point in his career was eighth in 2011. He lasted nine of the 13 contract years until he was bought out on July 13, 2021.
3. San Jose Sharks sign Erik Karlsson to an eight-year, $92-million contract on July 17, 2019
The latest addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-in push for their next Stanley Cup comes with a hefty contract and some excellent hardware. The five-time NHL all-star and three-time Norris winner, coming off a career-best 101-point season, looks to continue where he left off offensively last year in search of his first Cup.
4. Los Angeles Kings sign Drew Doughty to an eight-year, $88-million contract on July 1, 2018
The second overall pick in 2008 outdid his previous contract of eight years and $56 million after winning two Stanley Cups and a Norris Trophy. After signing his big deal, Doughty struggled somewhat with his on-ice production and injuries. After last year's bounce-back performance with 52 points in 81 games, let's see if he can maintain his form again this season.
5. Buffalo Sabres sign Rasmus Dahlin to an eight-year, $88-million contract on Oct. 9, 2023
The newest addition to the list, the breakout youngster posted a career-high 73 points last season and finished in the top 10 in Norris voting for the first time. With Buffalo's young core locked up – including fellow defenseman and No. 1 overall draft pick Owen Power – we’ll see whether the Sabres can earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2011.
6. Chicago Blackhawks sign Seth Jones to an eight-year, $76-million contract on July 23, 2021
To say the least, the trade and contract haven’t turned out exceptionally well for the Blackhawks after acquiring Jones prior to the 2021-2022 season. The Hawks have struggled through a rebuild, and Jones hasn’t matched his previous standard of play.
7. Boston Bruins sign Charlie McAvoy to an eight-year, $76-million contract on Oct. 15, 2021
Another bright young star locked up early to help lead Boston's defensive core. McAvoy finished with 52 points and placed 18th in Norris voting last season after finishing in the top five for the Norris in the previous two years. With significant departures in Boston this past off-season, can we see McAvoy make that Norris-level step up this year?
8. Edmonton Oilers sign Darnell Nurse to an eight-year, $74-million contract on Aug. 6, 2021
Finishing last season with 43 points might seem like a solid season, but Nurse missed out on some power-play points as Evan Bouchard took over the role as the Oilers’ top PP quarterback. With a cap hit of $9.25 million, many might have wanted Nurse to sign for less or let him walk, especially after the Mattias Ekholm acquisition last season.
9. Nashville Predators sign Roman Josi to an eight-year, $72.472-million contract on Oct. 29, 2019
Calling Josi’s 2022-23 season “disappointing” would be unfair, but that’s what happens when you finish with 96 points and place sixth in Hart voting and second in Norris voting the previous year, and then follow it up with a 59-point season. Josi has been a premier defender in the NHL, putting up 55-plus points in four of the past five seasons while playing a pivotal role for the Preds in all three zones of the ice.
10. Montreal Canadiens sign P.K. Subban to an eight-year, $72-million contract on Aug. 2, 2014
Coming off a two-year bridge deal after his rookie contract, Subban signed his massive deal after winning the Norris Trophy and leading the league in points by a defenseman with 38 in the shortened 2012-23 season. Three years later, he was traded to Nashville for Shea Weber and then to New Jersey three years after that. He only cracked the top five in Norris voting twice.