The best player in hockey should be the best-paid player in hockey. Right now that’s true with Connor McDavid leading all players with a cap hit of $12.5 million, but there’s a day coming before his current contract expires where he’ll relinquish that throne as the cost of a win rises in lockstep with the salary cap.



That was evident on February 5 when Auston Matthews signed a five-year pact carrying a cap hit of $11.63 million, and it became more apparent on July 1 when Artemi Panarin nudged slightly closer, signing a seven-year contract that carries an annual average salary of $11.64 million. Next season, 2017-18 MVP Taylor Hall’s contract is up and there’s a chance he can command even more, perhaps even approaching or surpassing McDavid’s deal.



Matthews will likely be a top five player over the course of his contract, but he’s not worth $900,000 less than McDavid, especially on a shorter term deal. The same story rings...