Two-year deals take precedence this offseason
NHLHS writer Anthony Curatolo breaks down the most recent signings around the National Hockey League and discusses how some of the deals are creating a new precedence within the NHL.
With all the new situations surrounding the National Hockey League, there has been a new common trend taking precedence. And no, we are not talking about the superstar sagas.
Two-year deals have become the common trend around the NHL when players are signing extensions with their current clubs, or signing as free agents – whether it be a restricted and/or unrestricted free agent signing or re-signing.
Thursday saw two deals that were almost identical to each other from two different teams for two totally different players.
“Two” seems to be wild, get your chips in and hope the dealer is on your side and not the side of the house.
For Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens – the Habs as well as their fanbase worldwide can now breathe a sigh of relief. The Price was finally right for the young Canadian netminder. Although the amount was a steep price to pay – no pun intended – by the Canadiens due to the inconsistency of his play, it secures an evaluation of what the kid will bring as he has just turned 23 years old and is preparing to enter his prime. These are the two years that will prove the true value of what Price will bring to the Montreal Canadiens.
If his history is any proof of his potential and with Jaroslav Halak out of the picture in Montreal, Price should indeed succeed.
Chris Stewart, who plays the role of the “new” power forward within the NHL for the Colorado Avalanche, also signed on the dotted line to stick around with the Avs for two more years. After notching 28 goals in his second NHL season, Stewart received a healthy pay raise that will see him earn $3 million over the next two seasons with the Avs. If he can keep up his production and be a consistent 25 or better goal scorer for the club, he will be considered a very valuable salary cap player.
The Edmonton Oilers gave young rising star Sam Gagner a two-year contract and Lee Stempniak recently re-signed with the Coyotes organization to a two-year deal as well. Even the Dallas Stars got into the mix, re-signing d-man Nicklas Grossman to a new – yes you guessed it – two-year deal.
Is it fair to say, at this point in time, that two-year deals are the new way to evaluate a players true value? With the way things are within the NHL, such could be the case as so many young and potentially excellent players continue to prove their worth. In the cap era, bad contracts simply cannot happen.
Pay attention to extensions throughout the season, and what goes on next off-season because the number two will likely play a huge role in contract foundations. Yet do not be fooled as there will always be long term deals as well as one year deals – it is simply the nature of the beast. The fact of the matter is that the two year situation becomes a very intelligent move by general managers and should become a sticking point in contract negotiations. Especially negotiations that take place with younger players attempting to generate fair and proper value.
On the flip side, not every player needs to be evaluated on a year by year basis. Giving a two-year deal provides shelf life as well as assessments on consistency and transition from one year to the next. There is no reason to go overboard, especially on a player who has yet to fully provide the same level of production on a year basis.
Take Stempniak for example here. Unable to ever reach his offensive production from the days he spent with the St. Louis Blues, he took a pay cut compared to the contract that expired at the end of the 2009-10 season. The reason – well one is the salary cap issue and the other rests on Coyotes GM Don Maloney having said player understand that he is earning what he is worth for his production.
Stempniak is a very good player who was able to score 14 goals in 18 games in Phoenix last season. However, he only had 14 goals in 62 games with the Maple Leafs prior to his trade, and the year before last, he only lit the lamp 11 times.
Compare that to the $3 million per season on average that Stewart of the Avs will earn and we realize that his dollar value surpasses the “market” value. Is Stewart worth $3 million a season? No, not at this point in time in his career but he could easily quiet the critics by coming out in 2010-11 and placing 25 or more biscuits in the basket (goals).
Stewart has an opportunity to prove he is worth $3 million per season, and possibly even more pending his output with the Avs in 2010-11 as well as 2011-12. As do all of the aforementioned players.
Again, that glorious number we have mentioned quite often during this article helps provide a steady balance for both GM and player in moving forward.
Prove yourself and you will be rewarded.
Either way, let’s not rush into next off-season as we have yet to embark on the upcoming journey known as the NHL 2010-11 season.
Seriously, is it October yet?
Anthony Curatolo
NHLHS NHL Correspondent
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC
Hi, I am trying to scour the internet for information on these 2 year deals, and I am of the opinion that the reasoning behind them is the CBA running out at that time, and players not wanting to be stuck holding a contract negotiated under the old CBA when the new one kicks in.
Do you have any thoughts on this? I was hoping your article would touch on it, and I see it as the predominant reason they are being signed.
Thanks.
Pat Ferguson.