What to do with Huberdeau?

[VilleN]

Huberdeau is not being paid for past production... what a dumb concept that is. If Zary continues his current pace, he'll get a nice contract because of his past production. He's not being paid for that production, he's being paid as a player that can put up x points - the thought is he'll continue to do that, so there is always risk. There is literally no other way to evaluate what a contract for a player should be.

[Funkhouser]

Wishful thinking, but I think the parties may mutually agree to terminate the contract.

After his next bonus ($7M) is given on July 1st, he will have "earned" $17.5M, leaving $67M on the table. This will allow him to hopefully find another contract elsewhere in the league, betting on himself to have success in the right environment. Lets assume that he could earn another $20M over the remainder of his career elsewhere, leaving $47M on the table.

Why would someone walk away from $47M?? He has earned $44M to date in his career. Add another $7M (Flames) and $20M (others), and he has a total of $63M in career earnings. He has enough money to last himself and his family for generations. Why choose to be unhappy for 7 more years, for money that will likely make no difference in his life. Happiness and time are valuable.

Call me crazy, but I would make this choice 10/10 in his shoes.

[Number 39]

IMO there’s only a handful of realistically possible ways out of the contract.

1) Trade for a similar bad contract (if one exists).
2) Personal conduct violation which provides grounds for termination (unlikely as JH seems like a good citizen conduct wise).
3) Not hoping for an injury but a long term LTIR issue.


A series of bad options.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The best thing this contract has done for the Flames is stopped us from overpaying and extending guys like Lindholm, Tanev, Zadorov and Toffoli to crippling contracts.

Hanifin was almost done but his number looked to be ok.

The team would have been in shambles if any of those guys extended long term for what they wanted.

[Flamesfan05]

LTIR is the only option but that may involve insurance fraud

[Number 39]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

LTIR is the only option but that may involve insurance fraud

I say this with no evidence but ILIR sure seems to often be a timely solution for alot of teams. I don't think the Flames need the cap for a few years anyways but if he’s not moved I wouldn't be shocked to see him end this contract on LTIR for the back half/third.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Wishful thinking, but I think the parties may mutually agree to terminate the contract.

After his next bonus ($7M) is given on July 1st, he will have "earned" $17.5M, leaving $67M on the table. This will allow him to hopefully find another contract elsewhere in the league, betting on himself to have success in the right environment. Lets assume that he could earn another $20M over the remainder of his career elsewhere, leaving $47M on the table.

Why would someone walk away from $47M?? He has earned $44M to date in his career. Add another $7M (Flames) and $20M (others), and he has a total of $63M in career earnings. He has enough money to last himself and his family for generations. Why choose to be unhappy for 7 more years, for money that will likely make no difference in his life. Happiness and time are valuable.

Call me crazy, but I would make this choice 10/10 in his shoes.

Non sensical from his perspective. The quit/terminate/LTIR/buy out fantasy stuff is just circular from page to page and beyond any reality.

[Number 39]

The only way LTIR makes sense is if he actually suffers a legitimate injury during the course of the contract. Given his age over the term of the contract it would not be shocking to see that happen over the back half of the contract. I stress, I don’t believe anyone is wishing for injury but older players just tend to suffer injuries as they age.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Wishful thinking, but I think the parties may mutually agree to terminate the contract.

After his next bonus ($7M) is given on July 1st, he will have "earned" $17.5M, leaving $67M on the table. This will allow him to hopefully find another contract elsewhere in the league, betting on himself to have success in the right environment. Lets assume that he could earn another $20M over the remainder of his career elsewhere, leaving $47M on the table.

Why would someone walk away from $47M?? He has earned $44M to date in his career. Add another $7M (Flames) and $20M (others), and he has a total of $63M in career earnings. He has enough money to last himself and his family for generations. Why choose to be unhappy for 7 more years, for money that will likely make no difference in his life. Happiness and time are valuable.

Call me crazy, but I would make this choice 10/10 in his shoes.

The people who think they can walk away from $47M because they would have had $63M in earnings aren't living a lifestyle that someone making $10.5M a year do. This is why it never happens. Drop someone who's been making $80k a year a cool $63M and maybe they'd walk away from the offer $47M, but not someone who's been living on a $7-10M a year salary

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

The people who think they can walk away from $47M because they would have had $63M in earnings aren't living a lifestyle that someone making $10.5M a year do. This is why it never happens. Drop someone who's been making $80k a year a cool $63M and maybe they'd walk away from the offer $47M, but not someone who's been living on a $7-10M a year salary

Yeah it’s like a 100K/yr guy take a 40K/yr job

He would be in depression for the rest of his life

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

The people who think they can walk away from $47M because they would have had $63M in earnings aren't living a lifestyle that someone making $10.5M a year do. This is why it never happens. Drop someone who's been making $80k a year a cool $63M and maybe they'd walk away from the offer $47M, but not someone who's been living on a $7-10M a year salary

It's not even that accurate. These guys' take home is immense, but probably less than half of the gross (though being in Florida would have benefitted him). Taxes, agents, escrow (when it's applied) take a lot off the top. These guys probably pay some OOP expenses for trainers, dieticians, financial planners, ad reps, etc.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

lol you think employers can just commit people to mental hospital

Seems only you are thinking mental hospital but 100% employers in Alberta are allowed to send employees home for not being fit for duty. I will however trust your opinion on mental hospitals.

[Sec214]

[Manhattanboy]

Maybe Treliving can do his old team a solid and provide some suggestions.

After all it was all his wizardry in lieu of any real diligence that landed us in this almost unprecedented pickle.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Number 39

The only way LTIR makes sense is if he actually suffers a legitimate injury during the course of the contract. Given his age over the term of the contract it would not be shocking to see that happen over the back half of the contract. I stress, I don’t believe anyone is wishing for injury but older players just tend to suffer injuries as they age.

Oh sweet summer child

[Number 39]

I was trying to play nice contractually. I’m very aware of how shades of grey play into this.

[Kasi]

I don’t understand the buyout proof nature of the contract. I could see if they were paying him below market value but 10.5 was more than enough for a player of his production and such. I don’t understand why they had to go to this type of contract without getting some concessions from Huberdeau on the salary value. I think the whole contract is just because Trev had a foot out the door already and just didn’t care about making a good deal.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Kasi

I don’t understand the buyout proof nature of the contract. I could see if they were paying him below market value but 10.5 was more than enough for a player of his production and such. I don’t understand why they had to go to this type of contract without getting some concessions from Huberdeau on the salary value. I think the whole contract is just because Trev had a foot out the door already and just didn’t care about making a good deal.

Gaudreau and Tkachuk turned down the same contract

[Kasi]

Well Tkachuk is actually worth it with his age and such. But I had read ofc they had offered Gaudreau the 10.5. I don’t know if it was ever said they had also offered the same salary structure with making it buyout proof.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Seems only you are thinking mental hospital but 100% employers in Alberta are allowed to send employees home for not being fit for duty. I will however trust your opinion on mental hospitals.

You said quote ‘LTIR Huberdeau for mental health issues’

I don’t know Alberta law now but most place you can’t just decide to send people home for mental issue on your own. You need consent. Anyway Huberdeau is not normal people. He has a valid contract.