from Max Bultman of The Athletic,

After this season, Larkin will have one season remaining before he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2023. If I’m the Red Wings, I don’t want to begin next season without an extension in the works — and ideally signed. Larkin will be 26 this summer (and 27 in the summer of 2023), which means his next contract is set up to be a long-term deal.

Looking at potential comparables: Evgeny Kuznetsov’s eight-year deal with the Capitals came at a $7.8 million AAV and 10.4 percent of the salary cap. On an $82.5 million cap (the league has said it expects the cap to rise by a million next season), that would be about $8.6 million. Logan Couture’s eight-year extension in San Jose was an $8 million AAV at 10.06 percent of the cap (about $8.3 million on an $82.5 million cap). Ryan Johansen’s eight-year deal with Nashville was at $8 million AAV and 10.67 percent of the cap ($8.8 million on an $82.5 million cap). Matt Duchene’s seven-year deal with the Predators was an $8 million AAV at 9.82 percent of the cap ($8.1 million on an $82.5 million cap).

That sets a pretty robust (and fair) precedent for Larkin, coming in somewhere between $8 million and $9 million on an eight-year deal. And if I were the Red Wings, I’d like to get that settled this summer.

Bultman answers more ($$$) questions from the readers...