Does Utah HC's forward Clayton Keller have the best-valued contract in the NHL?
At an average annual value (AAV) of $7.1 million, the 25-year-old has managed to remain relatively unnoticed as one of the top forwards in the league.
In September 2019, Keller signed a contract that spans eight years and is worth $57.2 million, which has since carried some of the best value in the NHL.
During the last season, he scored 33 goals and had 43 assists, totaling 76 points. The season before, he scored 86 points in 82 games.
Given the current state of the Arizona Coyotes, scoring 76 points per season should have put him on the map, but it hasn't seemed like it did. However, this season, Keller will be part of a strong team, which could significantly boost team morale and potentially lead to him reaching the milestone of scoring 100 points.
Scoring over 75 points per season and earning $7.1 million is considered one of the best deals in the NHL. This is particularly impressive considering his AAV is expected to remain low through the 2027-28 season.
Personally, I believe that following his first season with the new Utah team, many NHL fans will recognize him as having one of, if not the best contracts in the league.