2021 NHL year in review: November

Another Record-Breaker: Miro Heiskanen set a record for the highest annual average value given to a defenseman coming off an entry-level contract. That lasted a few days until Cale Makar broke it. And now, there’s a new mark to reach as Rangers defenseman Adam Fox signed a seven-year, $66.5 million extension. The deal carries a $9.5 million average annual value and has trade protection in each of the last four seasons, the only ones eligible since those are the only UFA-eligible years. Fox was the Norris Trophy winner last season and is certainly going to be in the mix for the award again this year as he sits third in scoring among all NHL blueliners with 39 points in 39 games.

GM Departures: Long-time Ducks GM Bob Murray was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into professional conduct. The next day, he tendered his resignation and indicated he’d enroll in an alcohol abuse program. Murray had been Anaheim’s general manager since taking over partway through the 2008-09 season, making him one the longest-tenured in that role in the league. Jeff Solomon is currently the interim GM, although Anaheim is now starting the process of looking for a full-time replacement (with Solomon among those in consideration).

Late in the month, the Canadiens made a front-office change as well, dismissing GM Marc Bergevin along with long-time top scout Trevor Timmins. It was quite the change of fortunes for Bergevin, who just months earlier had been engaged in talks on a contract extension following Montreal’s surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final last summer. Former Rangers GM Jeff Gorton was brought in to head up a new-look front office. Montreal operated without a GM for the past month and a half until Tuesday’s hiring of Kent Hughes.

Hughes Extension: The first two years of Jack Hughes’ career with New Jersey were fairly quiet as far as first-overall picks go. However, that didn’t stop the Devils from pursuing a long-term extension with him, and they were able to get a deal done, one that will pay the 20-year-old $64 million over the next eight seasons. The deal will make him the highest-paid forward on the Devils, and if he can get to the top-line level that he was projected to reach just a few years ago, this deal has an opportunity to become a team-friendly one toward the end. The contract buys out four years of UFA eligibility with Hughes receiving a 10-team no-trade clause in each of those. Hughes is averaging a point-per-game in his first 20 contests this season, a promising improvement over his first two seasons.