[Northendzone]

so i made this comment in the discussion about Robertson, but I then wondered if the issue is worthy of it's own discussion.

Robertson signed a shorter term deal that gets him to UFA. By that time the salary landscape will have presumably changed and maybe he signs a massive deal assuming he continues to develop. In other words he has gambled on himself.

Years ago McD signed a 10 year prison sentence deal that presumably keeps him in Edmonton for the duration. As I recall the deal was roughly 10yrs at $12m per. At that time it could have been argued that he had not really earned that salary based on his body of work. However, had he signed a deal that got him to UFA which say was this past summer or next (I am too lazy to figure out when he would be eligible for UFA); he could have had a chance to pick a new place to play and likely signed some deal for say 5-8 years at likely $15m per. so instead of making $120m over 10yrs - presumably he makes something in the range of $135m

for a player like mcd who gets better likely makes more money this way; however, a guy who is a bust like alexander daigle would be hooped if he went for a shorter term deal, but the team that signed him wins as they only are committed to him for a short period of time

does anyone else out there feel that perhaps the market is shifting, and guys will gamble on themselves go for shorter term deals

there seem to be pros and cons for both the team and the player with short and long term deals