With all these albatross contracts across the league, hopefully it makes gm's think twice before they sign guys like Vinny lecav, dustin brown, dave Clarkson, Alex semin, Lupul, Mike Richards, Dave bolland, etc to the types of contracts they did. It would have a league wide effect. Drive price down on players, or at least give gms an excuse to have players sign more cap friendly deals and then really earn their big contract.
- benjichronic

Yeah...GM's will think twice . Did the GMs inabilities to think twice not cost us 2 lockouts?

An unfortunate but completely necessary acknowledgement of Brown's downward trajectory. When you pay a player based on the nostalgia that came with bringing your city it's first 2 championships and not based on overall potential/future, you effectively handcuff yourself for years to come. Brown is an awesome 3rd line grinder at this stage of his career. potentially 2nd liner when he plays with a purpose. it's never been for a lack of effort on his part, I'll give him that. but if these last couple years are any indication of where Brown is headed as a player, we're in big trouble with him. this could easily become Mike Richards Part Deux. Hopefully I'm proven to be completely off base with this prediction, but the stats for a 30 year old Brown in decline seem awfully similar when comparing with Richards.
- Woodysdemise

I think most successful teams end up handcuffing themselves in the end. It's happening to you guys,it happened to Boston, it happened to Vancouver....it's about to happen to Chicago. I think a Stanley Cup is worth it, but I doubt anyone can avoid suffering a few years later...the days of Dynasties are long over my friend, for this very reason.

@Aussie

The extensions in contracts aren't allowed ad party of the standard player contact, also when the player is negotiating in his ufa years then one of the factors becomes term. A guy in ufa will go with the team who gives him term AND money. If you desperately need a player then you overpay like nonuts did for Clarkson... Nonuts said at the time Clarkson will be good for year one and two and he'll worry about the other years later...
- kaptaan

But the length of the contracts are ridiculous - how does anyone know what a player will be like in 3 years not to even think 5? Shorter contracts, guys are playing for their futures more often hence producing more. Guys not playing well getting smaller contracts etc. I get D take more time to develop, but still giving guys 10 year contracts (I realise they can only be 8 now), that is suicide!

But the length of the contracts are ridiculous - how does anyone know what a player will be like in 3 years not to even think 5? Shorter contracts, guys are playing for their futures more often hence producing more. Guys not playing well getting smaller contracts etc. I get D take more time to develop, but still giving guys 10 year contracts (I realise they can only be 8 now), that is suicide!
- Aussiepenguin

Collusion is frowned upon. There is always someone out there who will offer more term in free agency. Always. Think Matt Niskanen.

Collusion is frowned upon. There is always someone out there who will offer more term in free agency. Always. Think Matt Niskanen.
- Only_A_Ladd

All our clubs can offer what they want but don't. Standard is a 3 or 4 year deal. If a CEO (chief executive officer) gave a player a 6 year deal & he turned out a bust, the CEO would get fired.

All our clubs can offer what they want but don't. Standard is a 3 or 4 year deal. If a CEO (chief executive officer) gave a player a 6 year deal & he turned out a bust, the CEO would get fired.
- Aussiepenguin

As the old Wall Street saying goes: the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent. This applies to the current market for player salaries in the NHL perfectly.

As the old Wall Street saying goes: the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent. This applies to the current market for player salaries in the NHL perfectly.
- Only_A_Ladd

Nice quote.

the only way DB's contract remains tenable is not if he starts producing again (because none of us are holding our collective breaths) but if the cap starts rising again considerably.

I think most successful teams end up handcuffing themselves in the end. It's happening to you guys,it happened to Boston, it happened to Vancouver....it's about to happen to Chicago. I think a Stanley Cup is worth it, but I doubt anyone can avoid suffering a few years later...the days of Dynasties are long over my friend, for this very reason.
- Jeropotato

This.



Why is it so hard to understand that a UFA player is paid from past accomplishments, not on future projections? If they were, majority of all the contracts would have mile stone goals. I would love for the whiners to go back to their boss and say: ah, crap...I had a poopty year and I know your budget is off. How about I take a pay cut this year because I didn't live up to the salary I earned 2 years ago when I made you look like a genius? Or, how about you find me another job in another city?

This.



Why is it so hard to understand that a UFA player is paid from past accomplishments, not on future projections? If they were, majority of all the contracts would have mile stone goals. I would love for the whiners to go back to their boss and say: ah, crap...I had a poopty year and I know your budget is off. How about I take a pay cut this year because I didn't live up to the salary I earned 2 years ago when I made you look like a genius? Or, how about you find me another job in another city?
- puckhog

Yup. That's how it goes....you do whatever it takes to win a Stanley .....damn the consequences of too many big long term contracts afterwards. Sure you can be cautious....how's that working out for anyone?
I don't see any Stanley Cup rings around the fingers of any of the curious GM's.