Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus
Interesting but I don't see it as a problem. They will just extend him before the contract expires and avoid that situation altogether.
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Likely the case but far from a guarantee if Meier doesn't opt to sign an extension and regardless it gives him a lot of negotiating power. From his side there are two "worst case scenarios" that fall heavily in his favour:
- he signs a single-year 10M contract that makes him UFA as early as possible.
- he becomes a UFA even earlier than the 27/7 rule if he isn't qualified at 10M.
Both would normally be best case scenarios for a UFA like him (assuming he isn't injured in the next couple years), which means the Sharks have very little negotiating power. It's a very interesting contract in that it's getting very close to a 34M, 5 year contract with an opt-out year disguised as 24M, 4 year contract.