[Signing] Habs extend Slafkovsky 8 years x 7.6m

[Calgary4LIfe]

I would rather be a team that pays a player for what they think he will do, rather than a team that will pay players for what they have done in the past. No more retirement deals. The bulk of your deals should be on good bets like him.


The times that they stall-out in development, it looks bad. You definitely don't want to give all your young guys 8 year deals, but I think it is better betting on some of them vs older players you hope continue producing in the back-half of 8 year deals, or just make peace with it thinking you will buy them out or move them with a sweetener later on.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Getting rid of the bridge for premier players is best. Get signed up for their prime years with a tolerable cap hit. At age 29 if they signed at 18, you can decide if its a good idea to keep them any longer or they can go to UFA and get the nasty deal from another team.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I would rather be a team that pays a player for what they think he will do, rather than a team that will pay players for what they have done in the past. No more retirement deals. The bulk of your deals should be on good bets like him.


The times that they stall-out in development, it looks bad. You definitely don't want to give all your young guys 8 year deals, but I think it is better betting on some of them vs older players you hope continue producing in the back-half of 8 year deals, or just make peace with it thinking you will buy them out or move them with a sweetener later on.

Yeah, if there's anyone to bet on with an 8 year deal off his ELC, it's the guy you picked first overall two years ago who just jumped from 10 points up to 50.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Getting rid of the bridge for premier players is best. Get signed up for their prime years with a tolerable cap hit. At age 29 if they signed at 18, you can decide if its a good idea to keep them any longer or they can go to UFA and get the nasty deal from another team.

There is even a discount for buyouts of players under a certain age apparently, which I read about during the Dubois trade stuff. It’s a no brainer if you want to build a multi year cup contender.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I really hope they move to the NBA model of 4 years and having team and player options.

If you are going to be paid that much money, you should be held accountable to perform.