While it shouldn't be the reason he stays or goes, the contract issue shouldn't be so quickly dismissed.
Contract renegotiations (just looking at young players):
1 year: Galiardi, Bouma (yes, no biggie there, but it all adds up)
2 years: Backlund, Brodie, Baertschi
3 years: Monahan and Gaudreau (if he signs after this season - it would be a 2-year ELC)
Then there is the chance that one or two of the following group takes a big step forward:
Sieloff, Wotherspoon, Ramage, Berra, Knight, Colborne, Agostino, Reinhart, Horak (of course they are not all going to be big contract guys - I am saying one or two of them might be though)
Then maybe 4 years out, you're looking at: Poirier plus this year's top pick
And a guy like Gillies could be in the mix by then
Of course, there is no worries on the cap front for 2 or 3 years, but it will come. And it will come quickly.
Some prudent consideation now wouldn't be the worst idea.
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