Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar are about to spark widespread debate across the NHL regarding the value of their upcoming contracts.

Both players are in the final year of six-year agreements, with Hughes at $7.85 million and Makar at $9 million.

Hughes captured the Norris Trophy in 2024, moved to the Minnesota Wild in December, and turned them into a Stanley Cup threat. Makar, a two-time Norris winner, led the Colorado Avalanche to the Cup in 2022 and could deliver another title soon.

The anticipated cost is substantial. Projections point to figures well beyond current norms.

"Current discussions range from $15 million to $20 million per season based on length," one agent shared with ESPN. "We are approaching NBA-level numbers, which agents welcome, though roster construction becomes more complex."

These contracts will help the NHL align closer with other major leagues. At $20 million yearly, the deals would top NHL averages yet sit around 72nd in the NFL, tied for 75th in MLB, and 95th in the NBA.

Broader effects will ripple through the league. Beyond elevating top defensemen salaries, the deals may shift expectations for players across different skill tiers.

This trend began earlier. Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and former San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson signed eight-year pacts worth $11 million and $11.5 million annually.

Those deals started in the 2019-20 season, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The flat salary cap emerged as one lasting change.

Even with the flat cap, defensemen secured large contracts, including Makar in July 2021 and Hughes in October with the Vancouver Canucks. In 2023, Rasmus Dahlin joined the $10 million club with an eight-year, $11 million AAV deal in Buffalo.

By 2025, Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars (eight years, $10.587 million AAV) and Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers (four years, $10.5 million AAV) followed.

The rising salary cap played a key role. It stood at $81.5 million in 2021-22 and reaches $104 million for 2026-27.

"With the updated cap system, hits have increased as the NHL and NHLPA removed built-in flexibility," another agent observed. "Post-COVID, the league stayed cautious on raises and cap growth to protect the sport. That proved wise."

Cale Makar scores his second goal of the period

More defensemen will enter the eight-figure group, starting this offseason with Bowen Byram.

Byram was finishing a two-year bridge deal at $6.25 million when traded from the Sabres to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 23. Shortly after, Chicago signed the 25-year-old to a six-year, $12.5 million AAV contract beginning in 2027-28, making him the highest-paid defenseman.

"Byram had one year left and chose not to re-sign in Buffalo," a third agent noted. "This created a brief free-agent window while teams held cap space and few stars were available."

ESPN spoke with four agents anonymously about rising defensemen pay, which players will benefit, and long-term league impacts.

"These deals will solidify their elite status," one agent said. "The old gap where forwards earned more than defensemen will fade. This will show the opposite."

POSSESSING A PUCK-MOVING DEFENSEMAN is vital for Cup contention.

Charlie McAvoy, Mikhail Sergachev, and Zach Werenski formed the first group. A second wave included Miro Heiskanen, Adam Fox, Bouchard, Dahlin, Hughes, and Makar. A third featured Brock Faber, Noah Dobson, Luke Hughes, Jackson LaCombe, Jake Sanderson, Moritz Seider, Byram, and Harley. Newer names include Lane Hutson and Matthew Schaefer.

Five of the last six Norris winners come from this group. With 18 examples in a 32-team league, every contender needs such a player.

"A rising tide lifts all boats, yet waves have peaks," the first agent explained. "Even players below Hughes and Makar share traits on a spectrum. This is a leapfrog league. A new benchmark helps everyone as the market shifts upward."

Conversation then turned to Byram.

Byram was viewed as a future top-pair option since his No. 4 selection in 2019. He faced established stars in Colorado with Makar and later in Buffalo with Dahlin.

Joining a rebuilding Blackhawks squad offers Byram top-pair minutes across all situations.

Byram, 25, averages over 21 minutes per game but has one season above 40 points (11 goals, 42 points last year in Buffalo).

Bowen Byram scores the Sabres' fourth goal of the first period against the Bruins

Chicago faced criticism for sending the 2026 first-round pick to acquire Byram and then adding the $12.5 million deal.

The agents viewed the questions as straightforward in context.

"Byram was set to reach unrestricted free agency at 26, the youngest possible age," the second agent said. "Eight-year deals often extend past 30, but Byram's covers ages 26 to 32. That timing mattered and tied directly to market conditions."

The third agent noted the Blackhawks accepted criticism because players matching the Hughes-Makar profile remain scarce.

Minnesota sent Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, Marco Rossi, and a first-round pick to Vancouver for Hughes. Montreal traded two 2025 first-round picks and Emil Heineman to the Islanders for Dobson in June 2025, then added an eight-year extension at $9.5 million AAV.

The third agent described the NHL as a copycat league. The 2026 playoffs highlighted size, leading teams to draft bigger and pay bottom-six forwards well.

Young puck-moving defensemen stayed limited.

"Teams are also planning ahead," the third agent added. "Pay now focuses on current and future impact rather than past results alone."

Can only puck movers earn top money? Will shutdown or moderate-scoring defensemen reach $10 million?

"Minute munchers who log heavy 5-on-5 time, play first PK, and second PP will earn more," the third agent said. "Teams now value their ice time as much as or more than pure point production."

The fourth agent predicted a tiered pay scale based on role.

"First, second, and third pairs will exist, but a clear divide will separate the top tier," the agent said. "Teams will match ice time to the pay."

This returns to Byram.

The fourth agent suggested more teams might follow former Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, who acquired Byram, used him on the second pair at a team-friendly $3.85 million rate, then bridged him for two years.

When keeping Byram grew costly, current GM Jarmo Kekalainen gained assets and added a similar prospect in Olen Zellweger from Anaheim.

"It mirrored Byram's situation with Anaheim's stacked blue line," the fourth agent said. "Buffalo reset the clock on another player. Zellweger signed a three-year deal like Byram's earlier pact. Three years from now, Zellweger could follow the same path."

HUGHES AND MAKAR already influenced post-entry-level deals, leading to higher pay for younger defensemen like Hutson and Sanderson above $8 million annually.

All agents agreed the next Hughes and Makar contracts will shape the newest wave of young defensemen after their entry-level deals.

One could reach $10 million yearly.

"It is coming," the second agent said. "Matthew Schaefer's next contract will feature double-digit AAV."

Hutson and Sanderson earning more than Hughes shows younger players can surpass veterans.

The fourth agent sees Schaefer as the first to hit $10 million on his post-entry deal but advises patience.

"If Schaefer repeats his performance next year, he should play out the deal to prove consistency," the agent said. "Three strong seasons could lead to $16 million to $18 million. A shorter term would keep him in the market."