Quote:
Originally Posted by heep223
If he is a late bloomer, and is going to keep getting better after placing 6th in league scoring, wouldn't a bridge deal be a disaster for the team?
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If Johnny continues to improve after placing 6th in league scoring you back the dump truck up and bury him in money.
Johnny would be leaving a ton of money on the table potentially if he signs a 7 or 8 year deal at only 7 or less as some here are suggesting. It takes him outside the prime years and he gets underpaid in his prime years.
The team on the other hand obviously wants to keep Johnny under team control as long as possible. Thus really a 4-6 year deal which would let Johnny leave early via UFA isn't ideal for the team, but would allow Johnny to get another contract in while still in his prime years.
There is a mammoth amount of difference in the contract a 27 year old Gaudreau would receive versus a 31 year old.
Thus the ideal middle ground for both party's is probably around a 2 year contract, he remains under team control for the next contract negotiation and gets the opportunity to prove he's worth being paid in the eilte category of NHL players.
Let's remember there are 10 players in the NHL who made over 10 million last season. If Johnny continues to put up top 5 numbers he belongs in that group. His agent would be a moron to let him sign a 8 year 7 million contract at this point. He could literally be leaving 20+ million on the table.