McDavid and I hate to say it is the first true franchise player since Crosby. Not if's or buts. You not only build your team on the ice around him, but he also becomes your teams identity.
I love Johnny, but he's not in that kind of class. He's just not.
But being a franchise player comes with all sorts of levers that his agent is going to play when it comes to contracts.
The hockey world has evolved since the days of Gretzky signing a nice deal with Edmonton for the benefit of the Oilers, with the whole spit on your hand and my word is my bond.
The players realize more then ever that this is no longer a quaint hockey league making 300 million a year. This is a multi-billion dollar international machine with a powerful players association that's going to expect that McDavid and his agent are going to set the upper tier in terms of player value for the next 8 years.
I would bet that the agents starting position will be we want 5 or 6 years at 11 per, that's your discount. The Oilers will come back with 12 for 8, the agent will laugh and say if you want to buy UFA years it will be 14. They'll come to 12 or 12.5 for 8 and sign.
There won't be home town discounts, players with that kind of value don't do it.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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