Quote:
Originally Posted by heep223
Gio needs to be the highest paid player on the team for the next four years.
|
No, he doesn't need to be the highest paid for the next 4 years. That is ridiculous to suggest. Giordano may be our best player next year, but it is likely that he maintains that stature for much longer. With Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Hamilton and Bennett on the roster it is very likely one of these players surpasses Giodano in short order. You do not pay a player for what he has done, you pay him for what he projects to do. Giordano will be good for likely 3-4 years, then see his talent level fade. You pay for the first three years and understand that he is going to tumble down the lineup after that. Anything more and you strap your team with an ungodly expensive contract playing on the bottom pairing, which is a recipe for disaster.
I still contend that you give Giordano the $9 million he wants in year one, and possibly year two, but after that you have to reduce the amount on his contract by the max allowable to reduce the load at the end. Something like 9, 8.5, 7, 5, 4.5 for a $6.8 hit. I'd give him 3 years of NMC, and 1 year of limited NTC, but the final year being available to anyone in trade. Protects the team in the long run and gives the player what he wants.