Talk about a Sunday Funday for the Vegas Golden Knights, who have today announced not one, not two, but three contract extensions.
✍️ THREE SIGNINGS TO ANNOUNCE! 🚨
🚜 Brayden McNabb has signed a three-year extension
🙂 Michael Amadio has signed a two-year extension
🐺 Logan Thompson has signed a three-year extensionFull details 👇 #VegasBorn https://t.co/TjZOHrGrVO
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 30, 2022
Announced by General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, defenseman Brayden McNabb has signed a three-year extension through the 2024-25 season worth an average annual value of $2,850,000, forward Michael Amadio has penned a two-year extension through the 2023-24 season worth an average annual value of $762,500, and goaltender Logan Thompson has signed a three-year contract extension through the 2024-25 season worth an average annual value of $766,667.
The most notable of those transactions is of course the new deal for McNabb, who has been an absolute powerhouse on the backend for the Golden Knights so far this season. Through 45 games, the left-handed shot has two goals and seven assists for nine points with a +8 rating, while logging an average of 19:29 of total ice time.
Most impressive, though, is McNabb’s dominance in his own zone and he leads the entire NHL in blocked shots with 110, while he is the only player in the NHL who has recorded at least 100 hits and 110 blocked shots this season.
Dominant.
McNabb has been with Vegas from the very beginning after being selected in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft and he’s been a steady presence on the backend, posting 57 points (15 goals, 42 assists) to go along with 190 penalty minutes in 314 games over a five-year span, while he leads the franchise with 634 blocks and ranks second with 824 hits.
In 60 postseason games with the Golden Knights, McNabb has 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) to go along with a +10 rating, 42 PIM, 130 blocked shots and 212 hits. Given his durability and his consistent solid play, McNabb’s new cap hit of $2,850,000 can be classed as very team friendly, and his importance to this franchise cannot be overstated.
It is an important piece of business by McCrimmon who locks up a key unrestricted free agent, while today’s other two extensions are also smart moves.
Michael Amadio has proved to be a nice depth piece for the Golden Knights this season with seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 25 games. Since being claimed off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 30, 2021, the center has stepped up and played a key role for Vegas, who sit atop the Pacific Division with a 26-16-3 record despite having to deal with losing key name after key name due to injury and COVID protocol.
Finally, the Golden Knights also locked up goaltender Logan Thompson to a new deal, with the 24-year-old making his first NHL start against the Nashville Predators on January 4, 2022.
Thompson was given the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award, given to the American Hockey League’s best goaltender, for the 2021 season after posting a 16-6-2 record to go along with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage for the Henderson Silver Knights.
He boasts an 11-7-4 record with the Silver Knights this season, posting a 2.62 GAA and a .928 save percentage, and Thompson offers Vegas good organizational depth between the pipes.
These moves leave the Golden Knights with $5.74 million in cap space, per CapFriendly, although McCrimmon will need to make more moves in order to make room for the long-awaited return of Jack Eichel, who is currently working his way back from neck surgery.
However, for now, the Golden Knights can be pleased with the fact they have locked up a key top-four defenseman who is having a standout year, in addition to two depth pieces, all with team-friendly cap hits.