The Calgary Flames have signed one of their high-profile restricted free agents to a long-term contract.

On the heels of the most productive season of his young career, 21-year-old center Sean Monahan has signed a seven-year contract extension.

The deal is believed to be worth $44.625 million over the course of the seven-year term.

According to Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun, Monahan's agent, Pat Morris, said the negotiations dragged deep into the summer due to "differences of opinion and other players having signed".

So who are these previously signed young players that Monahan is set to rise above in terms of average annual salary?

From Francis:

Morris is referring to other top young centers in the game who also needed deals after wrapping up successful three-year entry-level contracts like (Aleksander) Barkov, who signed for six years and $35.5 million ($5.9 million annual average value).

Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (8 years/$49 million, $6.125 AAV), Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (7 years/$44.1 million, $6.3 AAV) and Nashville’s Filip Forsberg (6 years/$36 million, $6 million AAV) were all signed long ago, leaving Monahan, who has outperformed them all.

Indeed, Monahan recorded 80 goals and 159 points over the course of his three-year, entry-level contract - the highest totals among the group mentioned above.

Next up for the Flames will be the signing of 23-year-old Johnny Gaudreau, whose deal will likely be even more lucrative than Monahan's.

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