Quote:
Originally Posted by #-3
You could make a good argument that Crosby's big 12 x $8.7M contract was signed in the interest of making the team better over time, and it worked. He has the rings to show for it, he was slightly underpayed to start, but even now because of cap movement as he approaches his late 30s and seems to have slowed down a big, his contract will still look fairly good by market standards for the final couple years.
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Crosby was smart. When it comes to career earnings, truly phenomenal players have to see a little bit past just the year to year salaries. If you play your cards right and create a legacy for yourself, you can be a money making machine past your playing days. To do that, you have to have team success (i.e. championships), as well as personal success. I would venture to guess that guys like Gretzky and Lemieux have made more money after their playing days because of the brand and legacy they built around their success, than they did while they were playing. Players, or at least their agents, aren't dumb. They know that they are investing these years for future gains.
For regular star players, sure, maximize your career earnings in that 25-35 year old window. McDavid has to be looking at Edmonton now and realizing that it's not in his best interest to stay with a lame duck organization in his peak playing days. Even if they pay him the max allowable in his next contract, it probably isn't worth it long term. Unless of course he has come to realize that he isn't in the same tier as guys like Crosby and Lemieux, which for that matter might be true.