Theodore signs 7-year, $51.975 million contract with Golden Knights

Defenseman is franchise leader in goals, points at position, could have been free agent after season

Shea Theodore signed a seven-year, $51.975 million contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $7.425 million and begins next season.

The 29-year-old defenseman, who has seven points (one goal, six assists), is in the final season of a seven-year, $36.4 million contract ($5.2 million AAV) and could have become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Theodore, who was traded to the Golden Knights from the Anaheim Ducks to ensure that they selected defenseman Clayton Stoner in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, is the franchise leader among defensemen in goals (67), assists (229), points (296), power-play goals (11), power-play points (88), overtime goals (seven) and game-winning goals (14). He is second in games at the position (450).

Selected by Anaheim in the first round (No. 26) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Theodore has 313 points (72 goals, 241 assists) in 503 regular-season games and 68 points (15 goals, 53 assists) in 114 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He had 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) to help Vegas win the Stanley Cup in 2023.

The Golden Knights host the Ottawa Senators on Friday (6 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, TSN5, RDS2).