[Signing] Kings sign Kopitar to 8 yr extension. $10 mil AAV

[HarryH93]

I can see this blowing up in LA's face a few years down the road. Then I'll come back to this thread and bump it and we can all laugh at LA

[DJones]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Dimitri Filipovic @DimFilipovic
5 years from now Kings will have ~32M tied up in a 33 YO Kopitar, 36 YO Carter, 36 YO Dustin Brown, 35 YO Jon Quick, 39 YO Marian Gaborik.


Obviously not all are likely going to make it on the cap in the next 5 years. Kings will find a way to shed some of it.

But still pretty sobering when you think about it.

Lots of money and Kings will probably get another stanley cup or two out of it.

I kind of hate the precedent though. Chicago and LA both have sacrificed their futures to win the cup.

Dreading Calgary having to have the same mentality.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

I wonder how many private investigators the Kings will have on the payroll once it gets closer to the time Toffoli needs a new contract?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DJones

I kind of hate the precedent though. Chicago and LA both have sacrificed their futures to win the cup multiple times and having decent chances in the other years.

Dreading Calgary having to have the same mentality.

FIFY.

Anyway, as opposed to winning the cup, what exactly is Calgary building towards?

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by DJones

I kind of hate the precedent though. Chicago and LA both have sacrificed their futures to win the cup.

Dreading Calgary having to have the same mentality.

Im certain ownership of the Flames would be more than delighted to win a cup every couple of years while remaining $10Mil under the cap the entire time.

But... thats not realistic. You want to be the best? Well, you do have to pay those players who make you the best.

That will never change.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Im certain ownership of the Flames would be more than delighted to win a cup every couple of years while remaining $10Mil under the cap the entire time.

But... thats not realistic. You want to be the best? Well, you do have to pay those players who make you the best.

That will never change.

No problem paying the players. It's just overpaying them until they are pushing 40 that bothers me.

[Enoch Root]

That is a lot of money and is surely to become a burden at some point.

But a question that immediately pops up is: who would you rather have if they each cost $10M per year - Kopitar or Stamkos?

Kopitar is 28, but he is 6'3" and probably around 230. He is an elite two-way C.

Stamkos (26 shortly) is a little smaller, is lightning fast () and is an elite scorer.

I would rather have Kopitar because I think he will be able to keep doing what he does longer than Stamkos will. In other words, I think you can be an elite two-way C longer into your 30s than you can be an elite scorer.

[Moneyhands23]

So funny as Darren Dregger was just saying that this contract negotiation had gone sideways! Total rumor mongering!

[Jacks]

These long term huge money deals are crazy. Somethings going to have to give here. If the new normal is to give star players 10M+ then the 2nd - 4th line guys are going to have to make up the difference.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DJones

No problem paying the players. It's just overpaying them until they are pushing 40 that bothers me.

I get it, but 36 isn't really pushing 40. I don't think Kopitar, though a gritty guy, plays a style that will make him break down earlier.

[Geeoff]

I would sacrifice cap flexibility for cups every time.

[GranteedEV]

One thing about this kind of deal is, it might encourage teams to let their RFAs become free agents sooner rather than the traditional "buy UFA years". Like let Johnny be a free agent after age 25. That way if we have to sign him to a similar extension as Kopitar, we're getting his 26-34 years on that deal instead of 29-37

[Locke]

Wow. Does he get a full NMC and daily ass kisses as well? He got everything in this deal. Term and dollars. Did they even negotiate?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Dimitri Filipovic @DimFilipovic
5 years from now Kings will have ~32M tied up in a 33 YO Kopitar, 36 YO Carter, 36 YO Dustin Brown, 35 YO Jon Quick, 39 YO Marian Gaborik.


Obviously not all are likely going to make it on the cap in the next 5 years. Kings will find a way to shed some of it.

But still pretty sobering when you think about it.

Lots of money and Kings will probably get another stanley cup or two out of it.

That's the part that pisses me off quite frankly. They somehow swindled a get out of jail free card with Richards and I'm sure they will try very hard to weasel out of one or two of these contracts.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

One thing about this kind of deal is, it might encourage teams to let their RFAs become free agents sooner rather than the traditional "buy UFA years". Like let Johnny be a free agent after age 25. That way if we have to sign him to a similar extension as Kopitar, we're getting his 26-34 years on that deal instead of 29-37

If the bridge contract wasn't dead before it is completely going to be dead moving forward.

Likely better off to sign a core piece for 8 years at 21/22. and that buys you his prime seasons but you have more flexibility to cut bait once he hits his 30s.

Opposed to signing him to a 3 or 4 year bridge, which means that next big 8 year contract is going to take him into his mid 30s.

From a asset perspective trading a good player going to UFA at 30, is likely going to garner more return then a guy who you may be selling off at 33 or 34.

It's funny to think that the Kings likely wish they went longer than 7 years when they signed him to that contract as a 21 year old off his ELC.

[Ashasx]

We really should sign Gaudreau for max term for his next contract.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

We really should sign Gaudreau for max term for his next contract.

I agree with you but every year you add to Johnny's contract will increase the AAV given his situation.

I guess high end elite talent is now worth $10 million. Presumably these GM's have built a model where they can ice a championship team with that kid of top end salary. Although I suppose $10 million in today's cap is less than the $7 million Iginla was receiving when the cap was much lower.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

That's the part that pisses me off quite frankly. They somehow swindled a get out of jail free card with Richards and I'm sure they will try very hard to weasel out of one or two of these contracts.

They're probably hoping Dustin Brown gets taken in the inevitable expansion draft.

[Komskies]

It's a ton of money, but Kopitar is basically the European Toews so it's easier to justify it.

Let's just hope all of these high value, long term contracts come back to bite LA in the ass, but let's face it, they'll keep finding creative ways to circumvent the cap.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

If the bridge contract wasn't dead before it is completely going to be dead moving forward.

Likely better off to sign a core piece for 8 years at 21/22. and that buys you his prime seasons but you have more flexibility to cut bait once he hits his 30s.

Opposed to signing him to a 3 or 4 year bridge, which means that next big 8 year contract is going to take him into his mid 30s.

From a asset perspective trading a good player going to UFA at 30, is likely going to garner more return then a guy who you may be selling off at 33 or 34.

It's funny to think that the Kings likely wish they went longer than 7 years when they signed him to that contract as a 21 year old off his ELC.

I agree. If the trend is to pay your stars 8 x MAX, then the best thing to do is get 8 year deals signed while they are still young RFAs.

Forget the bridge contract - sign 22 year olds (that are worthy) to 8 year deals and let the chips fall where they may when they hit 30.