I am glad that it was 10.5x8. It was kind of the obvious contract given that this was the offer for Gaudreau, and Huberdeau essentially replaces him in the lineup (and tied him in points last season), and they are even close in age.
I was worried given the circumstances and optics of everything that Huberdeau would have squeezed more. Also, he has just turned 29 - June 4 is his birthday. Of course signing a 29 year old to an 8 year deal is going to result in having a poor value contract near the end of that term, but that's what happens now. You either sign your stars to these deals, or you don't keep them. I mean, perhaps he will still perform up to his deal throughout his entire term, but you likely bet against that. That's ok.
Now the trick is to win a cup. I wonder if Sutter is resting easier tonight or more excited and won't be sleeping trying to figure out his line combos now.
Weegar, Ruzicka, probably a few deals balancing the lineup (too many defencemen), and I guess that's a wrap on the off-season.
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