Ovechkin gets $124-million deal

Alex Ovechkin signed a $124-million, 13-year contract extension Thursday with the Washington Capitals, the first $100-million deal in NHL history.

It’s not the longest deal in NHL history -- Rick DiPietro signed for 15 years with the New York Islanders -- and it doesn’t set the record for largest average salary, but it is the league’s first contract to guarantee nine digits of income.

“I’m a risk-taker,” owner Ted Leonsis said. “And if you’re going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with?”

The deal will pay Ovechkin $9 million a year for the first six years and $10 million a year for the following seven. A limited movement clause kicks in after several years that will allow Ovechkin to select a handful of teams at the beginning of each season to which he cannot be traded.

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One of the NHL’s model franchises was sold when the Minnesota Wild said Bob Naegele’s majority stake will be bought by former Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold.

A purchase price was not revealed and the deal is expected to close over the next few months pending approvals by the city and the league. The sports business analysts at Forbes released their annual team values in November, estimating the Wild’s worth at $180 million.

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British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge ruled that Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini was no longer partners with Tom Gaglardi and Ryan Beedie when he made his successful solo bid to buy the franchise.