[Signing] Oilers sign RNH to contract extension (7 yrs)

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Most of the posts from Oiler fans and those supporting this contract are filled with "if" and "will".

This is the ultimate failing of being an Edmonton Oiler fan. It's the willingness to accept something simply because it's being offered to you, and FINDING reasons to accept it.
This is a bad deal right now, end of discussion. MIGHT it be a good deal in the future? Yeah, sure, but right now? It's a BAD deal.

If you sign RNH to a 2-3 year 2-3.5 mil/yr contract, that's a good deal. After that period, if he has earned a big contract and you have to pay 6.5-8? Then that's at worst an average deal. There is no logic in making a bad deal in the present with the hope that during the last 3 years of the contract it becomes high value. You make the good deal now, and if you have to pay big in 3 years, then you do it. The reward here is very low, because you're losing serious value during the first portion of the contract with the hope that you gain modest value at the end,

If you look at the Kadri deal, he got a bridge contract for under 4/yr. Last season he put up 44 points in 48 games averaging just over 16 minutes a night with average linemates. RNH put up 24 points in 40 games averaging just over 18 minutes a night with Hall or Eberle (or both). If you balance out the minutes basing it solely on average TOI, the difference in playing time between the two is 805 vs. 740.
That's not a huge difference, but 20 points is significant. Considering Kadri even had 6 more assists while most often playing with less offensive minded linemates than RNH, I'd say it's very telling.
I just don't see any perspective where this deal holds any value, but being that it's Edmonton, they can feel free to sign average players to 6 million dollar deals all day long.

[MissAvery16]

For Oilers fans I hope it works out..as for me I hope it bites them in the ass just for the rivalry.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

To me this kind of feels like how my grandparents would always give me and my cousins a card at christmas with the same amount of money in it, ensuring we all knew we were loved equally. Can't wait to see the Yak 6mil next year as well.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TKB

Yup that's what I heard as well, Thank F'ing god he didn't sign it!

What do you mean. That would have been awesome.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

Consider expansion, more outdoor games, a new Sunday night national TV property in Canada, double the revenue (expected) for Saturday night broadcasts and regular expected growth and an $80 million cap will be here before you know it.

This year's cap is artificially low at $64 million also. There will be a big jump next season, probably to $70.

Maybe but I don't know if that's going to be sustainable with some of the weaker franchises. The Flames were essentially breaking even at a $65 million cap selling out the Saddledome.

[username]

I'm just saying that if Feaster right now had the opportunity to offer RNH that contact to play for Calgary I would be very happy if he was able to do it. If he turns out to be the player many project he will be that deal will look incredible in 5/6 years.

[puckluck2]

This is awesome news. RNH will never be the same because the Oilers forced him to play with an injured shoulder.

[H4P]

I hate this deal!!! I am a huge Red Deer Rebels fan and always wished RNH would eventually come to the Flames.

I think the article that was put up by mc79hockey was great in discussing the issue of bridge deals vs longer term second contracts. History has shown that longer term contracts for high picks who have produced is the norm and not vice versa.

Personally, I think if Monahan makes the jump directly to the NHL this season and does well over 2 years I would prefer to lock him up long term before the final year of the ELC. Same really goes for any of our top end prospects.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I think the Oilers should have tried to get a bridge contract in place. Nuge didn't deserve this contract and there is a lot of risk assumed by giving it to him. Poor management on the Oilers part as it sets an expectation for Yakity Yak and Sgt. Schultz for their next contracts.

[kehatch]

You get five or six guys you can commit big long term contracts to. So far the Oiler's have committed to Hall, Eberle, and RNH.

What are they going to do with Schultz and Yakupov? Do they really want a core of Hall, Eberle, RNH, Schultz, and Yakupov? Are they able to commit 30-million long term to all of those guys? That is three wingers, 1 C, and a D that can't play defense.

I don't have a problem with the RNH deal. But they need to find the right blend of players to build around their current 3. Though personally I hope they commit big dollars to all of them and try to win with a high cost core with the wrong assortment of players.

[Enoch Root]

RNH hasn't earned that money yet. Period.

He might. He might become a great player. He also might not.

The gamble, in and of itself, isn't the problem here.

The problem is that the Oilers continue to give the kids everything - playing time, status, contracts, PP time - whatever. Nothing is earned, everything is awarded on the hope/assumption that the players will be what they are projected to be.

As long as that is the way things are done there, that franchise will continue to fail.

As Hugh Jharmes said, the next Christmas cards have already been put together and those two guys can count on getting them.

Horrible, horrible way to run a team.

[TKB]

I feel RNH will be a top center for years to come, my only issue with this is why it wasn't left until the off season? If he had a mediocre season it would of helped keep his dollar figures down a bit.

[You Need a Thneed]

Some other players around the league that have signed big long extensions have at least had short stretches where they were worth as much as the contract.

When has RNH shown himself to be a $6Million player? He hasn't.

Hall and Eberle were at least playing like six million dollar players when they signed their extensions.

[Robbob]

I don't understand the rush either. This easily could have been done next off season and I can not imagine RNH turning down the offer at that point. Definitely not without its risks.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by kehatch

What are they going to do with Schultz and Yakupov? Do they really want a core of Hall, Eberle, RNH, Schultz, and Yakupov? Are they able to commit 30-million long term to all of those guys? That is three wingers, 1 C, and a D that can't play defense.

If it's what you've got, it's what you've got. For me, I think they should definitely do a similar deal to this for Yakupov. Schultz, maybe a shorter term one. Or hell, maybe he goes, it's not like they had to give anything up to get him. Having three #1 overall picks signed long term is pretty much a solid guarantee of a good first line for the better part of a decade.

I would challenge your premise that there's any set number of guys you can go long-term on. It really depends on the situation you're in. I'd prefer to look at it on an individual contract basis - are you getting good value for your $6M bucks a year? I think they will get good value out of Hall, RNH and probably Yakupov. I'm not 100% sure on Eberle when all's said and done.

[Erick Estrada]

If these guys are getting these contracts for missing the playoffs and not getting any hardware on a bad team would Subban be worth +$8 million over 7 years on the Oilers scale?

[GGG]

If they wait until the end of next season even if he scores 30 and stays healthy the price on this deal remains the same.

So there was no downside and a lot of upside to waiting until the end of this season.

[Erick Estrada]

Francis on the radio right now saying all the execs he's talked to around the league (take with a grain of salt) say they have reservations that RNH will ever be able to play a full season in his career because he's slight and frail.

[bubbsy]

i think people are overblowing this a bit.

yes, the contract is likely a bit premature, but 6 million really isn't all that bad. he's somewhere around the 30th highest paid forward next year (not considering all the players that have the same cap hit): http://capgeek.com/leaders/?season=2...ion=F&limit=50

it is interesting that toews/kane have a similar 6.3/year type deal, though they had a cup when they got their deals i think...

[AlbertaOiler72]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Some other players around the league that have signed big long extensions have at least had short stretches where they were worth as much as the contract.

When has RNH shown himself to be a $6Million player? He hasn't.

Hall and Eberle were at least playing like six million dollar players when they signed their extensions.

Hall was an injury-prone winger coming off of shoulder surgery that wold have held him out till November had the lockout not occurred...just like RNH

now that contract doesn't look bad after last season