LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights made Shea Theodore their second highest-paid defenseman Thursday, signing him to a seven-year contract worth an average of $7.425 million per year.

Theodore’s deal is valued just above fellow blueliner Noah Hanifin’s $7.35 million average. Hanifin signed an eight-year extension in April, about a month after being acquired from the Calgary Flames.

Another defenseman, 34-year-old Alex Pietrangelo, has an average salary of $8.8 million on a deal that runs through 2026-27.

The 29-year-old Theodore is in his eighth season with the Golden Knights. He leads Vegas defensemen with seven points through six games and is the franchise all-time leader among that group with 296 points. Theodore is plus-65 for his career in Vegas.

Locking up Theodore answers one of the team’s key roster questions because he would have been a free agent after the season.

“I’m excited to be here another seven years and really solidify this place as home,” Theodore said in a video posted on the team’s X account.

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This story has been corrected. A previous version reported erroneously that Theodore was the Golden Knights’ second highest-paid player. He is the second highest-paid defenseman on the team.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl