Connor McMichael and the St. Louis Blues avoided salary arbitration and came to terms on a six-year, $40.5 million extension.
The big deal will see the 25-year-old McMichael make $6.75 million against the salary cap through the 2031-32 season. The final four years of the contract include a three-team no-trade list.
The Blues acquired McMichael, a restricted free agent this offseason, from the Washington Capitals in a trade that saw high-scoring winger Jordan Kyrou land in DC. St. Louis also received prospect Milton Gastrin and a 2026 first-round pick.
McMichael is coming off a two-year, $4.2 million bridge contract that he signed with the Capitals after his entry-level contract expired two summers ago. In those two seasons with the Caps, McMichael recorded 103 points (40g, 63a) in 160 games.
The Ajax, Ontario native played six years with the organization after the Capitals selected him 25th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. He admitted being surprised by the move during his first media with the Blues, speaking with team reporter Andy Strickland.
“I’m feeling great,” McMichael said last month. “I would say the first hour there was kind of a little bit of a shock. Obviously, processing everything, but the fact that it was the Blues and just knowing some guys on the team already, it’s already feeling easier. I’m really excited to get going.”
When compared to contracts the Capitals have other forwards signed to, McMichael will be making more against the salary cap this season than Aliaksei Protas ($3.375 million), Alex Ovechkin ($4.25 million), Dylan Strome ($5 million), Boone Jenner ($5.75 million), and Tom Wilson ($6.54 million). The only Capitals forwards who will make more are Alex Tuch ($10.5M), Pierre-Luc Dubois ($8.5M), and Jordan Kyrou ($8.125M).
