Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen will enjoy a big raise this upcoming NHL season.
Hansen, 24, was awarded a US$825,000, one-way contract in a salary arbitration hearing Thursday.
The native of Herlev, Denmark, was paid US$550,00 on a two-way contract last season when he scored nine goals and had six assists in 47 regular season games. He had one goal and two assists in 12 playoff games.
Laurence Gilman, the Vancouver's assistant general manager, said the team is comfortable with Hansen's pay increase.
"It fell within the range of potential awards we thought he would get," Gilman said.
In 107 regular season NHL games with Vancouver, Hansen has 15 goals, 21 assists and 57 penalty minutes.
The Canucks could face another huge settlement when forward Mason Raymond has his arbitration hearing on Monday.
Raymond, 24, had 25 goals and 28 assists in 82 games last season. There is speculation his salary of US$760,000 could triple.
"Each hearing is unique and involves a set of comparable players that are specific to that player," said Gilman. "We have anticipated with each player that their salary could fall within a specific range."
The Canucks payroll is now around US$60.6 million. The NHL's salary cap is US$59.4 million.
Gilman said the Canucks have plenty of time to get below the cap.
"We don't have to do that until the day before the first day of the NHL regular season," he said.
"There are a number of variables that can come into play between now and then. Such as trades, or injuries or the competition that gets born out of training camp."
