Three NHL Players Who Took Discounts On New Deals In Recent Years

As the NHL’s salary cap continues to grow, more players are signing massive contracts. 

Last week, the Minnesota Wild signed superstar left winger Kirill Kaprizov to an eight-year, $136-million extension with a league-high $17-million cap hit. And this week, Kyle Connor and Jack Eichel signed eight-year deals worth $96 million and $108 million, respectively.

Even with the increasing salary cap since the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few stars who have chosen to prioritize loyalty over money.

The biggest example recently is Connor McDavid, who chose to keep his $12.5-million cap hit for two more years with the Edmonton Oilers this week. He said he’s motivated to win the Stanley Cup, which means that money isn’t the top priority.

Here’s a look at three more players who took a pay cut to remain with their hometown team.

Claude Giroux, RW, Ottawa Senators

After signing a three-year deal worth $6.5 million annually with the Ottawa Senators in 2022, Giroux did nothing but impress. He tallied 50 or more points in all three seasons, including a 79-point year in 2022-23.

In addition to his stellar performance in the regular season, he was a main contributor in their lone playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he tallied five points, tied for the second-most on the team. 

Giroux was also effective on the power play, totalling 61 points across three years.

Despite entering his age-37 season, Giroux was showing little to no signs of slowing down and was set to enter free agency with the opportunity to earn a contract with a similar, potentially even higher cap hit than his last.

However, he opted to take a pay cut to remain with the Senators.

In July of this year, he signed a one-year, $2 million deal, with bonuses that could increase the value of the contract to $4.75 million. 

Giroux said he wanted to remain in Ottawa and continue to build with his teammates.

“It’s not really about the money; it’s what we’ve built the last few years,” Giroux told reporters in…