[Rumour] Jared Cowen, 90 NHL games played, offered 8-year contract?

[Ashasx]

League sources confirmed to the Sun Thursday the Senators have tabled an eight-year, $28-million offer — an average of $3.5 million per season — to Cowen’s camp.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/08/15/...d-for-new-deal

[Yamer]

Well, if both sides agree that he will develop into that kind of player, it is a fair deal (bordering on favouring the Sens). Ottawa must be pretty damn confident that he is going to be playing top 3 minutes over the next 6-8 years.

Market and scouting considered, the AAV seems reasonable. Given what I've seen of the player (extremely limited), it's a mild wager. Factoring in risk and the average view/opinion of the player, this is a considerable risk.

The Sens opine highly of Cowen, and if he evaluates himself as highly, then this could be highway robbery on behalf of the Senators camp on this one.

Interesting proposal at the very least.

[Rapidfire999]

This would be very dumb of Cowen to accept if he thinks he can project to be a Very good top 2 dman. If he thinks he doesn't have much more to contribute then it will be a major steal for him. Tough decision!

[SoulOfTheFlame]

I wonder how hard you would work if you got that contract. I mean, money is no longer a motivator for a young player at that point. Maybe pride keeps him improving, all depends on his character.

[FAN]

I like Cowan, but this is a huge gamble if Ottawa is indeed offering 8 years. Cowan is a guy who has suffered a couple of significant injuries already: reconstructive knee surgery and hip surgery to replace torn labrum.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Rapidfire999

This would be very dumb of Cowen to accept if he thinks he can project to be a Very good top 2 dman. If he thinks he doesn't have much more to contribute then it will be a major steal for him. Tough decision!

I wouldn't view it like that. Cowan has untapped offensive potential but right now he projects to be a defensive shutdown defenseman. Shutdown defensemen generally don't make $5M+ a year. For a player who is coming off hip surgery and likely won't be making much more than $4M a year until he hits UFA, 8 years at $3.5M a year = security.

[Itse]

Well, if you have to make a really long offer, I guess this actually makes some kind of sense.

It's still too risky for my taste, but at least there's a potential for it being a dirt cheap contract by the end, and it's not going to be a huge anchor even if Cowan never delivers.

[Da_Chief]

I don't do this if I'm Cowen.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FAN

I wouldn't view it like that. Cowan has untapped offensive potential but right now he projects to be a defensive shutdown defenseman. Shutdown defensemen generally don't make $5M+ a year. For a player who is coming off hip surgery and likely won't be making much more than $4M a year until he hits UFA, 8 years at $3.5M a year = security.

I agree that a contract like this means security for the player.

Which is why, as an organization, I wouldn't do it. I want to keep my players hungry and working for their next contract, not secure (at least not too secure).

Older guys have earned it. But for young guys, you don't want them feeling comfortable, like they've arrived.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Rapidfire999

This would be very dumb of Cowen to accept if he thinks he can project to be a Very good top 2 dman.

Any kid who turns down a $28m contract at this stage in his career is, to be polite, absolutely f***ing ######ED.

Lets break down the gamble.

If you take the contract, and...

...everything goes great -> you are a 30 year old UFA top defenceman, with $12m (or whatever) in the bank, and poised to cash in on a retirement contract. The down side is living with the knowledge that if you had risked it all, you might have $15.5m in the bank now. Oh the regrets for the life you could have had.

...something goes wrong -> f*** it dude, lets go bowling, in your own bowling alley that you had build on your private island, because you are still stupidly rich beyond your wildest dreams. Knowing that if you'd turned that contract down you'd need to work the rest of your life like a regular slob.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Rapidfire999

This would be very dumb of Cowen to accept if he thinks he can project to be a Very good top 2 dman. If he thinks he doesn't have much more to contribute then it will be a major steal for him. Tough decision!

And whose to say that he doesn't get a career ending injury next year? NHL careers on average are very short, and there are many factors in the game that can make them even shorter. Passing on 28 million dollars of guaranteed money would be stupid IMO, especially since when this contract is done he would be right in the prime for defencemen to make big money if he does continue to improve

[flamesfan1297]

that does not seem very smart. i guess there is a lot of risk but there could alos be high rewaard

[OzSome]

I thought on the lockout they agreed on maximum 7 years contract only? Anyways this is a reason why some teams like the Islanders, Flyers got in to trouble. Signing long term.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I thought on the lockout they agreed on maximum 7 years contract only? Anyways this is a reason why some teams like the Islanders, Flyers got in to trouble. Signing long term.

It's 8 years if they re-sign with current team, 7 years if with another team. Too bad the owners couldn't get it down to 5 years.

[Northendzone]

this seems like a very bad idea for the sens - but i guess they saved money by letting alfie walk

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

And whose to say that he doesn't get a career ending injury next year? NHL careers on average are very short, and there are many factors in the game that can make them even shorter. Passing on 28 million dollars of guaranteed money would be stupid IMO, especially since when this contract is done he would be right in the prime for defencemen to make big money if he does continue to improve

On the same line of thinking, if Cowen does experience a career ending injury during this contract, then the Sens are off the hook anyway as it would be the insurance company paying the rest of the contract.

The only real risk here is if Cowen doesn't play up to his contract. With the $3.5M caphit he really only needs to play up to a second pairing role, which I think is a pretty safe gamble from what everyone has said about the guy. Hopefully he can improve his +/- though. At a quick glance he stands out as having one of the more negative +/- on the Sen's backend.