Vegas signs D Theodore to 7-year, $36.4M contract

Defenseman Shea Theodore has signed a seven-year, $36.4 million contract to remain with the Vegas Golden Knights through the 2024-25 season. He’ll earn an average of $5.2 million per year, the team confirmed Tuesday.

Shea, 23, was a restricted free agent. In 61 games last season, he recorded NHL career highs in goals (six), assists (23), points (29) and playing time (20:21 per game average).

“I don’t know that we were ever really far apart. It was more what’s the right term,” Golden Knights general manager George McPhee said, according to NHL.com. “They were more interested in going shorter, we were more interested going longer. When it was laid out and explained to the player why we were doing that, it helps us manage the cap better. And if we’re doing that better, I think the chances of us winning are better. … He’s a good young player and we got some unrestricted years, and now he can just play.”

The Golden Knights acquired Theodore from Anaheim in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. The Ducks selected him with the No. 26 overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft.

He reacted on Twitter to his new contract, writing, “Looking forward to sticking around Vegas for 7 more years!!! Can’t wait to get season 2 started!”

Entering his fourth season, Theodore has posted 46 points (11 goals, 35 assists) in 114 NHL games. He also has appeared in 40 playoff games, including 20 last season, when the Golden Knights lost to the Washington Capitals in five games in the Stanley Cup Final.

–Field Level Media