[Signing] Kings re-sign Gaborik to 7 year contract ($4.9mil AAV)

[Miniac]

Thats a long time damn.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Azure

...The Kings have a way more balanced lineup. When you have 5-6 guys that could win the Conn Smythe you know you're doing something right.

There is no doubt that the Kings are heavily weighted towards "win now". I think they'll be regretting some of these moves in a few years.

[sureLoss]

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
Gaborik breakdown: $6.075 M each of first 3 yrs; $5.075 M in 17-18; $4.575 M in 18-19; $3.175 M in 19-20; $3.075 M in 20-21

[SuperMatt18]

7 years...Yikes

Lombardi making some weird long term signings the last couple years.

11 years combined for Greene and Gaborik is crazy.

Both are on the wrong side of 30 and have had injury issues in the past. They will regret both of these deals.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I'm surprised how few like this deal. Seems like a great deal for the Kings to me.

They're obviously in win now mode, and a low AAV of 4.9 will help them try to get to a third cup over the next 2 or 3 years. After that, they can probably eat 1M off the contract and AAV and move him to another team if he isn't as affective anymore. Or, as a few have mentioned, he could retire or if injuries catch up to him just ride out the deal on LTIR.

There are still plenty of loopholes in the CBA and this contract will try to use lots of them.

Another way to look at it... would you rather have Boland at 5+ for a similar term? Vanek at 7+? He fit perfectly into their team and was a huge contributor to the cup win. Darryl said he was the key to the cup shortly after they won. Lombardi doesn't make many mistakes, and I'm sure he has an exit strategy for this contract before it becomes a burden.

I like this deal. 4.9 x 7 years = 34.3 million. No doubt Gabby would have gotten that much as a UFA, if not more. That cap hit is great. I don't think anyone would have expected him to score less then a 5 mil cap hit. That's actually pretty remarkable. Obviously the final years were probably discussed during negotiations over what might happen. I think it's a great deal.

[RUS]

Gaborik signed the contract for 7 years......
Kings "failed from an oak"!

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

There is no doubt that the Kings are heavily weighted towards "win now". I think they'll be regretting some of these moves in a few years.

"Win now" has done Ok past 3 years, might be more of that coming.

Pearson and Tiffoli examples of really good young players developed from within who played key roles in the cup win. Kings are not an old team.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

"Win now" has done Ok past 3 years, might be more of that coming.

Pearson and Tiffoli examples of really good young players developed from within who played key roles in the cup win. Kings are not an old team.

Also two players, along with Muzzin and Martinez who will be looking for some good money next off season. Gotta think Lombardi is looking hard for a way to unload Richards, or trying to move one of the young guys now while the the iron is still hot.

[Saqe]

So there is no recapture penalty if he retires early? How's that possible...

[Nsd1]

Originally Posted by Saqe

So there is no recapture penalty if he retires early? How's that possible...

The cap recapture penalty is used to punish teams that signed players to long term front loaded contracts under the old CBA. Since teams can't structure contracts under the new CBA like they used to before, they don't have a recapture penalty anymore.

[Saqe]

nvm

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

There is no doubt that the Kings are heavily weighted towards "win now". I think they'll be regretting some of these moves in a few years.

If they win another cup within the next 3 years, I doubt there will be much regret any of these moves.

[nik-]

I'd pretty much play while needing to push a chair in front of me to stay on my feet to make another 3.5 million dollars. Even if I had made 40 in the previous years. This isn't like a Kipper contract really ... 3.5 is a lot to walk away from.

I don't see him retiring unless he's forced to.

[FAN]

Reminds me of the deal Chicago gave Hossa. The last few years of the deal is likely going to suck but it's been worth it for Chicago and it's going to be worth it for the Kings if Gaborik helps deliver another Cup or two.

[Cheerio]

There goes my dream of seeing Gaborik play for the Flames

[driveway]

But it does increase the possibility of seeing Mike Richards in a Flames jersey.

edit: Or possibly a return of Regher.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

There is no doubt that the Kings are heavily weighted towards "win now". I think they'll be regretting some of these moves in a few years.

They have the worst cap situation in terms of long term deals. Not buying-out Richards was stupid.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

They have the worst cap situation in terms of long term deals. Not buying-out Richards was stupid.

I've pointed this out before but there's no reason for the Kings to buy out Richards both for the short and long term. Right now they have $5.7M to qualify Dwight King, bring a 13th forward and 7th defenseman. Easy. Next year Stoll (3.25M) and Williams (3.65M) become UFAs with the RFAs like Clifford and Toffoli needing new contracts. Nicely structured to allow the more experienced youngsters take on even bigger roles. Kopitar is due for a new contract after next season but given the pattern of the rest of the players, I suspect it'll be a 7.3M over 6-7 years.
Long term? It looks ugly on the surface but is purposefully done.

Quick: Signed for 5.8M until 2022-23 (37yo). Goalies expected to last longer, even if he is a reflex based goaltender. Last 3 years average comes down to 2.3M from 7M.

Doughty: 7M until 2018-19 (29yo). You pay this guy whatever. Deal will look more like a sweet heart in the years to come with the cap rising.

Brown: 5.8M until 2021-22 (37yo).

Richards: 5.75M until 2019-20 (35yo). Struggled to put up points the last couple years, but still 0.5ppg while carrying heavy defensive responsibilities.

Carter: 5.27M until 2021-22 (37yo). Last 3 years drops down to 2.3M average from 6M+

Again looks like these will be contracts that will handicap the Kings in the future, but Lombardi has basically planned for the eventual downturn as the Kings' main core all age together. If they manage to win another cup in the next 3 years, that's already adding more success to the massive amount they've achieved already. By the time these contracts look like anchors when all these core players 33yo+, the team will be in a period where it can handle these contracts.

To be fair, nobody knows what the Kings will be able to realistically achieve in 5 years time but having those extra years at the cost of a lower AAV caphit is working out well for the Kings.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

They have the worst cap situation in terms of long term deals. Not buying-out Richards was stupid.

Yeah... 2 cups (and counting) of stupid

[PeteMoss]

Well at least Gaborik isn't super flakey and likely to stop trying when he's got contract security....

uh oh.