let's play a game (Dougie Hamilton contract)

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I agree with you, however, there are a few factors:

Hamilton only has 3yrs experience.
No Arbitration rights
5yrs takes him to UFA (so a bridge makes more sense)
The Flames have 3 HUGE RFA contracts to negotiate in the next 3yrs, and this will set a precedent
The Flames are in the middle of a negotiation with Gio - and he is likely not being offered more than 5yrs

The way I understand it, the player goes UFA after 7 pro years. Since Hamilton has already played 3 years, he'll go UFA after 4 more years not 5 years.

For those suggesting a contract at $5.5M per or less, that won't fly because that's what he turned down from Boston.

[Street Pharmacist]

There are really three options:

A) Bridge deal. Low dollars with promise of more if he plays well. Chance of Hamilton accepting are slim as he's already shown it. He's too good for a bridge deal when offer sheets will come of he doesn't sign.

B) Deal for slightly lower than comparables with term taking him right to UFA. Most likely scenario, but a little dangerous for Calgary as if he pans out, they'll have to pony up big time in 5 years.

C) long term high dollars with UFA years included. With UFA in 5 (4?) years, cap likely to be higher and Hamilton's comparables likely higher, it will cost more to buy UFA years. This pushes his AAV much closer to UFA comparables like Doughty, etc. To me, this is silly. Buying UFA years will not save much as his RFA years will not be cheap either.



I'm guessing option B: 5 years, $6.5M.

[Red Menace]

It seems to me there is no way the deal is under 5 years, nor 5.5ish, and will likely be higher. Those concerns about term are when signing UFAs who are 27 yrs older or more. Should be no concern in giving a 22 year old stud 5-7 years.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

The way I understand it, the player goes UFA after 7 pro years. Since Hamilton has already played 3 years, he'll go UFA after 4 more years not 5 years.

For those suggesting a contract at $5.5M per or less, that won't fly because that's what he turned down from Boston.

Great point and reminder! So 4 years as a term is out the window. Looks like it's 5-7, or a 3 year or less bridge deal. The chances of a bridge deal seem slim.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Great point and reminder! So 4 years as a term is out the window. Looks like it's 5-7, or a 3 year or less bridge deal. The chances of a bridge deal seem slim.

I think part if the bridge deal concerns in Boston would have been a sign and trade by the Bruins. The stuff about him being a problem in the dressing room lend to this. If you aren't confident with the bruins keeping you you probably want more term for them to show commitment to you.

Also going into UFA do you want to be coached by a defence first coach?

So I can think of a few reasons beyond just money vs term that would give the flames as a young up and coming team a better chance to sign a bridge deal then the Bruins would.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

$5.8m for 2-3 years.

That's a lot more $$$ than any of Roman Josi, PK Subban, Justin Faulk, or Jonas Brodin got.

[jayswin]

8 years x $6.9

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by flameswin

8 years x $6.9

I'd take it

[1_Flames_Fan]

7 at 6.5 million is my guess.

[greentree]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I think Treliving continues to wow us.

8 years, 6M.

This.
That is all.

[Bezer]

Put me down for a 6 mil x 8 years.

[getbak]

It will either be a 3 year deal so that he'll still be RFA when it expires, or a 7 year deal to get maximum value for it.

The Flames would likely prefer the 3 year deal (and it sets a precedent for Monahan, Gaudreau, and Bennett). Hamilton likely wants longer for the guaranteed money.

At the end of the day, 7 years, with the ability to sign another 7 or 8 year deal when he's 29 probably will work best for both side.


I'll say 7 years with a $6.5 million cap hit.

[dying4acup]

Hamilton cannot sign 8yrs with the Flames, as he wasn't with us at the trade deadline.

The Bruins (reported by Friedman)offer involved 4RFA years and 2UFA years at an AAV of 5.5M.

There has been no (official or reliable) mention of Hamilton refusing a bridge.

How can we know for sure that he would reject a 3year bridge around 5-5.5M?

I could understand him wanting a higher caphit for his UFA years (years 4-6).

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I'd take it

Yeah, some might call it high for now. But I'd be ecstatic to be paying him $6.9mil for the next 8 years. His comparables will likely be taking home $10mil/yr+ contracts by the time he's in the back half of that.

I know it may be unpopular here, but if I'm Brad I look at this contract as a huge opportunity for our franchise to say;

"You know what, we've got a franchise level D-man here who fell into our lap because his drafting team basically said 'We're giving you a small, short contract or we don't want you', so we can be the new caring stepfather that comes in says your real dad can go **** himself, we see the value in you, and will pay you for as long the NHL will let us. How about we just guarantee you $55mil in career earnings today?".

I think Hamilton signs that and is happy considering the situation he's leaving and we get a franchise D-man for a higher price in the first couple seasons and then likely a steal for the last 5-6 years.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Yeah, some might call it high for now. But I'd be ecstatic to be paying him $6.9mil for the next 8 years. His comparables will likely be taking home $10mil/yr+ contracts by the time he's in the back half of that.

I know it may be unpopular here, but if I'm Brad I look at this contract as a huge opportunity for our franchise to say;

"You know what, we've got a franchise level D-man here who fell into our lap because his drafting team basically said 'We're giving you a small, short contract or we don't want you', so we can be the new caring stepfather that comes in says your real dad can go **** himself, we see the value in you, and will pay you for as long the NHL will let us. How about we just guarantee you $55mil in career earnings today?".

I think Hamilton signs that and is happy considering the situation he's leaving and we get a franchise D-man for a higher price in the first couple seasons and then likely a steal for the last 5-6 years.

He hasn't played a single game for the Flames, so how can you call him "The Franchise Defenseman"?

I really don't like the idea of gifting him a huge money huge term contract before he has played a game here, and coming out of his entry level contract.

Remember, there are significant entry level contracts expiring here soon.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Hamilton cannot sign 8yrs with the Flames, as he wasn't with us at the trade deadline.

I didn't know this was a thing. So what's the max years we could sign him for then?

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I didn't know this was a thing. So what's the max years we could sign him for then?

7years

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

He hasn't played a single game for the Flames, so how can you call him "The Franchise Defenseman"?

I really don't like the idea of gifting him a huge money huge term contract before he has played a game here, and coming out of his entry level contract.

Remember, there are significant entry level contracts expiring here soon.

I didn't really mean THE franchise defenseman, just A franchise defenseman, meaning his ceiling (and he hasn't really shown anything that suggests he's going to fall off) is that of a franchise, number 1 D-man.

And I certainly think he's shown enough already to put significant eggs in his basket. I'm not talking league max type of stuff here, I'm talking paying him comparable to a lot of other number one pairing D-man on CURRENT contracts.

This difference being that if we're willing to suck up a couple of years at $6.9mil now, we're likely looking at a really low comparative cap hit in the last six years.

When you've got guys like Subban getting $9mil/yr already, I'm looking ahead to where the NHL is headed with contracts and I'm laughing all the way to the bank at signing Hamilton to that cap hit for as long as I can.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

The Bruins (reported by Friedman)offer involved 4RFA years and 2UFA years at an AAV of 5.5M.

There has been no (official or reliable) mention of Hamilton refusing a bridge.

How can we know for sure that he would reject a 3year bridge around 5-5.5M?

I guess I assumed the Bruins started with a bridge deal offer before working up to a longer term deal. What's the source or report about the 6 year deal with the $5.5AAV? I had heard the dollar figure but not the term, and don't see anything on his twitter account.

EDIT: Nevermind, found it. Looks like the counter-offer from Hamilton's side was $7.5M AAV for 6 years.

[devo22]

I'd expect either something like 6.0 for 6 years or 6.5 for 7 years. Would be okay with either option.