Would you give out a long-term NHL Contract?

by thecity23 on Dec 3, 2009 12:53 PM PST

After seeing top West Contenders like Detroit and Chicago giving out long-term contracts to their "star" players for Zetterberg, Hossa, Kane, Toews and Keith, do you like the idea of giving out 5-13 year contracts? With me being a huge NBA/Warriors fan i know that the longest they can give out to a player is 5 years, so seeing contracts this long kinda surprises me.

So if you had the chance to sign a long-term contract with any Shark, who would it be? (Without all the cap stuff) The player(s) outta my head for me would be: Thornton, Marleau - since their in their primes and Pavelski.

Just wanted to get the idea out there and see what other people think.

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I have a piece coming out on Sunday which covers just this… my money is on Marleau.

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by Matthew_Taylor on Dec 3, 2009 1:58 PM PST reply actions

Depends on the player

The only one I’m ok with is the Keith contract. He could very well be the next Lidstrom, and the contract doesn’t takes him till age 40. He also doesn’t seem terribly injury prone, and one of his main attributes is his speed and smooth skating, which seems be one of the longer lasting characteristics for hockey players.(See Niedermayer and Modano).

The kane and Toews contracts don’t really match the other ones you mentioned. Unlike the Zetterberg and Hossa contracts, they aren’t really “lifetime deals.” 5 years is by no means outrageous in terms of contract length in the NHL, and I could certainly see many players getting deals like that. They exist only for cap purposes and will eventually backfire. Either they are pretty blatant cap circumvention and the teams expect the skaters to retire before the end of the contract, or you’re stuck with a superstar contract for an aging increasingly ineffective player. With these frontloaded contracts you can’t really save much money with a buyout either.

Generally, speaking I think they’re not that great and/or against the spirit of the CBA. Wilson has also stated in the past that he’s against these types of contracts. I think 4 year deals for Marleau and Pavelski to match with the expiration of Boyle and Heatley’s contracts would make sense.

by tarlinian on Dec 3, 2009 3:13 PM PST reply actions

There are usually teams that are playing near the cap floor and would love these kind of contracts to push them over.

When nearing the end of their contracts and only raking in a measly 500k a year but have an effective cap hit of 5 million… that’s gold to a team just looking to squeek over the cap floor.

by Evilducks on Dec 6, 2009 12:46 AM PST up reply actions

If I was going to do it

I would do it before the CBA deal is up! You know the NHL is going to want to close this particular loophole.

"iaT"S FUCKINGE LIEK CONICO DO MAYO!!!!!111"
Mr. K. 5/5/2009

by Morti on Dec 3, 2009 3:24 PM PST reply actions

Seeing these contracts gives me hope.

It gives me hope we can lock up Seto, Patty, and Pavs all long term with similar deals.

Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
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by SharksFanEst.1994 on Dec 3, 2009 4:36 PM PST reply actions

Same here.

But more than anything, I think I want to see Patty sign a deal that makes sure he retires a Shark.

Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" Club

by jwizzle241 on Dec 3, 2009 7:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

this

Jon Casey fan since '84

by stufflife on Dec 3, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions

I’d lock up Pavs and Marleau, I think Seto is expendable with Heatley signed long term and Ginner emerging as a potential top 6 forward.

Oh, so that's where you edit your signature

by Teas on Dec 4, 2009 2:08 PM PST up reply actions

I really only want Seto locked up so my Seto jersey does not become useless.

Proud member of the "Don't Trade Marleau" club.
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by SharksFanEst.1994 on Dec 4, 2009 5:07 PM PST up reply actions

I’m thinking that we’ll lock up Pavs and Patty, and either trade Clowe for picks and a D-man and sign Seto, or keep Clowe and trade Seto for picks and a D-man. There’s no way we can keep all of our top 6 forwards. Nabby will be definitely be gone and we’ll platoon Stalock and Greiss.

by Mr Tea on Dec 4, 2009 11:38 PM PST up reply actions