[Signing] Eichel signs 8 yr 80 million dollar extension

[codynw]

This is a big contract for a guy with 142 games played and a career high 57 points. He's got the potential to be one of the best players in the game over these 9 years, but still some risk there for sure. I'd have waited and let him play out his full ELC first, see if he can keep that production up over a full season.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

A ton of coin, but it was the price that had to be paid. Now he can go out and earn it.

Seems backwards.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

$10 million a year without ever making the playoffs?

[Lil Pedro]

Really excited for the impending lockout in a few years

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Really excited for the impending lockout in a few years

Seems like a strange thing to hope for. Kind of curious why?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Eichel could very well be the 2nd best forward in the league for the next 10 years. Seems like pretty good value to me.

Maybe so. But also, maybe not (better chance of not than so).

For a 2nd contract, for a guy that has 113 points and a career high of 57, and has never even seen the playoffs, that is ridiculously overpriced.

This contract is actually worse than Draisaitl's. And that is saying something.

[Insane_Flame]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Seems like a strange thing to hope for. Kind of curious why?

Sarcasm brah

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Seems like a strange thing to hope for. Kind of curious why?

Forgot my green text

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Man these contracts have been insane lately, especially with the cap not expected to go up. He's worth it compared to Draisatl but wow, I'm glad Monahan and Gaudreau needed contracts last year and not this year

This one fact is a huge reason why Calgary will be a true contender over the next few years, and Edmonton will struggle to have any decent depth.

[Wyguy]

I dont follow him very much, but this is a lot and I do not think he is worth 10m a season.

[Samonadreau]

A year ago he is worth 8.5. But after Draisaitl he is worth 10 I guess. League GMs be hatin' on Chia.

Add me to the camp pumped for the lockout in a few years.

Also Laine and Matthews must have grins from ear to ear.

[Yrebmi]

nm

[GreenLantern2814]

Well, we wanted an end to 12 and 13 year contracts. This is what we get.

I'd just like to remind everyone Johnny and Sean combine to make just over $13M.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This contract is actually worse than Draisaitl's. And that is saying something.

Based on viewings of both last season, I'm willing to wager Eichel outscores Draisaitl this year, and without the benefit of being on a McDavid line. If all you look at is raw point totals to date then of course 10M seems like too much, but it's every bit as safe a bet as McD's contract.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

Based on viewings of both last season, I'm willing to wager Eichel outscores Draisaitl this year, and without the benefit of being on a McDavid line. If all you look at is raw point totals to date then of course 10M seems like too much, but it's every bit as safe a bet as McD's contract.

This is the new normal for players of Eichel's calibre - we got so lucky getting Gaudreau and Monahan done last year. I think heading into next summer, they'd be $70M players.

[SebC]

Which team was going to sign him to an offer sheet for $9.8M at 7 years and give up two first round picks, a second, and a third to do so? If the answer is none of them, then Buffalo overpaid.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by SebC

Which team was going to sign him to an offer sheet for $9.8M at 7 years and give up two first round picks, a second, and a third to do so? If the answer is none of them, then Buffalo overpaid.

If he repeats his last season surge? Every team in the league does and then they find a way to make him fit.

The guy was outscored by two centers after the All-Star break. McDavid and Backstrom. He doesn't even need to improve to be worth it, he just needs to be as good as he was since the start of 2017.

The only issue, in your scenario, is that it would be four first round picks because of the over 5 year contract rule (which they should have removed when they added contract length limits), and that's the only reason a team should be hesitant. To get an All-Star player in his absolute prime years for 2 first round picks? Steal of the century.

And again, as always people bringing up the 10M a year as though it hasn't been going on for the last decade. Here's some current salaries:

McDavid averages 12.5M a year
Crosby averages over 10.5M a year until he's 35.
Parise averages over 10M a year until he's 35.
Weber averages 11M a year until he's 35.
Suter averages 10M a year until he's 35.
Ovechkin, going forward, makes 10M a year now until he's 35. He signed his contract in 2008 with a cap-hit of 9.5M+.
Price makes 10.5M a year until he's 39.
Lundqvist makes over 10M a year until he's 35.
Kane and Toews make 10.5M a year.
Kopitar averages over 10M a year until he's 35.
Burns is making 10M a year until he's 35 and signed until he's 39.
Benn makes 9.5M a year.
Subban makes 9M a year despite signing while still an RFA.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Also, really look at the supporting cast around him. Reinhart was a staple on his wing, and a promising young player, but his career high is 47 points. On the other wing his most common linemate was Foligno, who's career high is 23 points. Chiasson had 24 points last year for some perspective.

The entirety of the Sabres defense had 17 goals. Hamilton had 13, Giordano had 12 (Flames defense had 38).

In terms of even-strength point production, he really didn't have much of a chance. He really was the opposite of Draisaitl in what happened to him. Put Monahan out there with Tkachuk, Chiasson, Wideman and Engelland and we wouldn't be surprised to see his numbers plummet, but that's really comparable to what Eichel played with on even strength most of the time.

But throw him out their with O'Reilly, Okposo and Ristolainen on the PP and all of a sudden he's only behind Backstrom in terms of powerplay production for centers.

As pathetic as it is, Pominville, Kane and Beaulieu on the back could be huge upgrades offensively compared to what he was working with last year. In any case, a center that can put up point-per-game numbers while having no supporting cast for most of his minutes is pretty much getting to the point of generational talent at this time.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Sorry, don't agree. No athlete is worth this amount of money. I don't care how you try to justify it.

You need to take an economics course, and learn about the law of supply and demand.

Athletes are worth what the market dictates they are worth.

In fact, it's only the salary cap system which artificially depresses the value of the top hockey players.

In a true free market system, McDavid would likely get $20M per season.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Seems like a gross overpayment for a guy who has never done anything of note. This is the worst contract extension we've seen in the league.