Crosby's set to sign a deal that's 12 years/$104.4 million. As much as I'm a Pens fan and love Crosby for all he has done for the team, I'm wondering how wise it is to give a guy this much money when he has played 28 games in 18 months due to concussion/neck problems.
However if Crosby's cap number staying at $8.7 million helps sign Zach Parise....
Its an Ambassador Deal. Even if he plays for a few more seasons which cross your fingers could happen, he will still be the face of the team and still sell a lot of merchandise. Its also a thank you for being the face of the franchise when a few years ago would realistically talking about the Colombus or Las Vegas Pens. Since Mario got a deal like this when he played and it helped make him an owner, I am thinking Mario is grooming Crosby to be heir apparent. Shit, he practically raised the kid.
The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Yep, this is a dream scenario. Crosby took a discount in 2007, and now the cap has gone up 40% since then and he's taking the same term. I think the max contract is something like $14 million now and he's at $8.7. Plus, next CBA notwithstanding, the cap is theoretically going to continue to raise over the next 12 years, and he's locked in at this rate.
Plus, besides making room to sign free agents next week, it lays the groundwork for Malkin to match his 8.7 like he did last time, although it's been suggested that the next CBA will make the maximum contract length six years so he wouldn't be able to match him at 12.
Plus, if he gets injured again, he just goes on long-term injured reserve and doesn't affect the cap. Bad for Ron Burkle and/or the insurance policy, but doesn't hamstring the team's financial flexibility.
Thanks Justin for explaining how the financials of this can work out so the Pens don't have their cap messed up if he gets knocked out for a long time again. I was just shocked to see that big of a number and that many years for a mega-star with a history of bad injuries.
That aside, as lotjx said, he does deserve every bit of this cash for saving the franchise.
Hopefully they'll do Malkin next and set the team up for the next 5-7 years.
Originally posted by jerichofan717Thanks Justin for explaining how the financials of this can work out so the Pens don't have their cap messed up if he gets knocked out for a long time again. I was just shocked to see that big of a number and that many years for a mega-star with a history of bad injuries.
Yeah, basically if you go on long injured reserve, the team can exceed the cap by the amount you make while you're out. So if he had a season-ending injury, his $8.7 is freed up to bring in someone else (but if he came back in the same season, you would lose the cushion). It's not free money, because he still gets paid, but for competitive purposes it sort of is.
Now if he kept getting concussions and missing big chunks in the middles of seasons, then they'd be messed up. But fingers crossed that that's all behind him. And if he had a career-ending injury, I believe he just retires and it goes off the books. Or, if he wanted to keep collecting his contract, he would show up at training camp each summer, be ruled out for the season, and go on LTIR.
Hopefully they'll do Malkin next and set the team up for the next 5-7 years.
Totally. They're in a really good position. If they sign Malkin for $8.7-9 million, they'd have arguably the two best players locked up for 25% of the cap -- when the best one player can get paid 20% of the cap. Crosby+Malkin could cost $17.4 million when Crosby himself could be making $14 million if he wanted it. <3
You never know, they might have a clause in there if he gets concussed again they can transition him into a position in the organization and re-work the contract.
Plus, if he gets injured again, he just goes on long-term injured reserve and doesn't affect the cap. Bad for Ron Burkle and/or the insurance policy, but doesn't hamstring the team's financial flexibility.
Oh no, this will not be insured. The length of the deal aside this is riskier than A'mare's knees. Nice gesture, but the Pens are paying this whole thing one way or another.
Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils Best fit: Los Angeles Kings
Yes, having won the Stanley Cup helps the sell here. So does warm weather and a well-heeled owner in Phil Anschutz. But the biggest reason why Parise would fit so well here is that he would be the perfect final piece of a core of young players that theoretically could dominate for another five years, at least. Parise, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick would give L.A. a great player at each of the four main slots on a hockey team -- a winger, a center, a defenseman and a goalie.
The Kings only have about $12 million of cap space, but that's enough to squeeze Parise in. They'll need a replacement on the left side for the possible departure of Penner, and what better candidate than this guy?
Where I think he'll sign: Detroit
The Wings are in a mild state of panic right now. They want to make a splash on Day One of free agency to help their fans start to forget about the loss of Nick Lidstrom. It wouldn't shock me to see Detroit make some kind of outrageous, Ilya Kovalchuk-type offer. The Kings demonstrated with Kovalchuk three years ago that they don't like to go near the $100 million range on a player.
Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators Best fit: Carolina Hurricanes
Hear me out: Suter has talked some about wanting to play in an NHL city that's family-friendly, where he could raise his kids. The Raleigh-Durham Triangle area is tough to beat. Players who play for the Hurricanes rave about it, with many choosing to retire there.
Besides, this is going to be a very good team again. The 'Canes still have a young, top goalie in Cam Ward and just recently added Jordan Staal. Carolina could use a leader on the blue line, so it's a good place for Suter to escape the shadow of Shea Weber. If he went to Detroit? Sorry, too much pressure there. Everybody will be comparing him to Lidstrom, and that's not fair.
The 'Canes have $22 million of cap room. Plus, owner Peter Karmanos knows Detroit wants Suter badly, and he still has a huge rivalry with Wings owner Mike Ilitch. (Remember that Sergei Fedorov offer sheet in 1998?) What better way to improve your team -- and stick it to your rival? Suter and the Hurricanes are a natural fit.
Where I think he'll sign: Detroit
Don't underestimate at all how badly the Wings want to make a splash on Sunday. This is an organization with 12 straight 100-point seasons, but it knows that run will end if some younger star power isn't added. GM Ken Holland will convince Suter that he's the natural heir to Lidstrom's throne, and Detroit fits Suter's Midwestern roots.
Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals Best fit: New Jersey Devils
Semin gets ripped on a lot, sometimes rightly so. He's not physical, he can floats around, and he doesn't backcheck much. But the Devils -- if they lose Parise -- are going to need to replace 60-80 points, and Semin has the talent to do it. He is used to playing with a star Russian forward, so joining Ilya Kovalchuk would help him make the transition from Alex Ovechkin.
He may not be Lou Lamoriello's perfect idea of a replacement for Parise, but Lou could do worse than sign a guy who has put up 50 or more points in each of the last five seasons and 70-plus in three.
Where I think he'll sign: Florida
Don't ask me why. It just seems that guys like him always pass through Florida at some point. Hey, the Panthers are not a joke franchise anymore. Semin could certainly do worse than end up here. Florida has nearly $30 million in cap room, and GM Dale Tallon likes to spend. Don't discount the weather factor, especially for Russian guys who grew up in the bitter cold.
Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes Best fit: Toronto Maple Leafs
You know Brian Burke would love to add him. Doan can still play, he can still score, he's got truculence and he's a leader. I think he would enjoy the all-hockey-all-the-time atmosphere of Hogtown, after years of playing in the witness protection program known as the Phoenix Coyotes.
Let's face it, Doan needs a change of scenery, and what better place than Toronto for a guy who wants to play in front of full buildings again?
Where I think he'll sign: Phoenix
You get the feeling that something will work out in the end to keep Doan with the only franchise he's ever known. The Coyotes always seem to get a call at 11:59 p.m. from the governor, telling them they got a stay of execution. Doan reportedly will meet face-to-face with prospective new owner Greg Jamison over the state of the franchise before deciding whether to leave.
Just don't expect Doan to sign anywhere else on the first day of free agency. But if he does sign elsewhere, that will give you a pretty good indication about the franchise's overall future in Arizona.
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils Best fit: Chicago Blackhawks
First off - wow. Friday brought the seismic news that Mr. Devil himself, the goalie-for-life in Jersey, may just finish his career in another uniform. Brodeur has hired high-powered agent Pat Brisson, and the word is that if he isn't signed by the Devils before Sunday's witching hour, he'll throw the scare of a lifetime into the team's fans by testing the open market.
I mean, can you really picture Brodeur wearing another sweater? I can't, but as a collector of the jerseys of great players who finished up with weird teams (Johnny Unitas: Chargers; Bobby Orr: Blackhawks), I will be first in line to get whatever new threads in which Brodeur winds.
To me, Chicago would be Marty's kinda town. Let the francophone Corey Crawford sit and watch the master do his thing for a year backstopping a high-octane team in the fun Madhouse on Madison. True, the Blackhawks only have about $8 million in cap room, but that could land Brodeur. Chicago needs a better goalie, and the future Hall of Famer showed that during the Devils' run to the Cup final that he's still got it. Sign him up, Stan Bowman!
Where I think he'll sign: Chicago
I'm going to stay consistent with this one. Maybe Toronto makes a big pitch for him, or Florida, Tampa Bay or San Jose. But I think Chicago would be just the right place for Brodeur to finish his brilliant career.
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill
They're taking their talents to South Dakota in a Reverse Heat, nice people going back to Zack's hometown to be polite and sip lemonade and relax in the fjords.
Originally posted by JustinShapiro#pariseandsutertowild
They're taking their talents to South Dakota in a Reverse Heat, nice people going back to Zack's hometown to be polite and sip lemonade and relax in the fjords.
Originally posted by JustinShapiro#pariseandsutertowild
They're taking their talents to South Dakota in a Reverse Heat, nice people going back to Zack's hometown to be polite and sip lemonade and relax in the fjords.
Your jealousy is so ugly.
Whut, I think it's cool. I just like my bizarro South Beach conceit. HOT/COLD. SOUTH/NORTH. COCKY/HUMBLE. It's all there and it's all super funny.
Originally posted by Omar PadillaThe Sedins, the Staals (sort of), the Schenns, the Kostitsyns...any other brothers left that aren't on the same team?
Nick and Marcus Foligno
Stephen and Brian Gionta
Ryan and Drew Miller
Scott Hartnell and Mike Commodore
Jarko and Tuumo Ruutu
Eric and Kyle Wellwood
There's also a handful of Sutter cousins farting around. The Hurricanes were hoarding them, but had to trade Brandon as part of the Staal Social Experiment they're conducting. Expect the other two Sutters to get mailed to New York for Marc Staal in a couple of years.
All-time three greatest Mark Messier moments.... #3: The look of sheer joy and laughter on his face when he was being handed the Cup as a Ranger #2: This picture I saw of him dressed as the Joker for a ritzy Halloween party. Holy lord, it was creepy.
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