Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Again, he is not (yet) an 80+ point player.
And if you look at guys that are making $8M+, they all have a longer track record than Gaudreau, and they typically have playoff success on their resume as well.
He is not going to get more money than Tarasenko - he will get less. And if his camp thinks he should get more, the Flames will be starting the season without him.
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I don't disagree with what you are saying, and I actually think you are highlighting the exact reason this deal isn't done yet.
But what you aren't acknowledging in you post, is we are literally at the foreground or the starting point of a new "contract type" (don't know what else to call it) in the NHL. It's the reason a lot of these RFA contracts are taking longer to sign. Teams are asking and looking to lock up very young players long term. So they are essentially paying them on anticipated potential versus past performance. True previous $8M contracts have all gone to more "proven" players, but the NHL is changing. Teams are trying to identify their key players early, and lock them in.
Gaudreau is absolutely sitting in his seat going, in a few short years, I will absolutely prove I'm worth $8M plus. So if you'd like to lock me in for 8 years, you are going to pay me like I've proven I'm worth that. If you aren't prepared to do that, then I'll sign a shorter deal and prove to you I'm worth the dough.
I'm not saying he's going to get $8M plus, clearly the Flames have lots of reasons to not want to do that, and you've highlighted them. But to simply say $8M plus contracts only go to proven players doesn't acknowledge the fact that clearly we are at the forefront of an evolution in who gets paid in the NHL and how teams are looking to manage their assets.