He's missed a quarter of the season 3 of the last 4 years. That is going to come in play. He'll still get a huge contract though, but questions of durability may cost a year or so in term.
I assume he signs long term in the summer. Although I do wonder if our management would listen to a good trade offer considering his age and where it fits with what they are trying to build. Personally, I think a young teams needs guys like him and Hudler, and since we definitely have the cap room, that will be the thought that wins out. But if you completed removed emotion from it, he's going to be 33 when that contract extension starts and has already had issues staying healthy. A five or six year deal pays him from when he is 33-39 or so. Is that the right age guy to be putting so much money into as the young guys start getting more expensive?
I still think he signs here, but I am not sure it is the slam dunk everyone thinks it is, and may be a bit of a long negotiation.
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