Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
This contract is puzzling. The Wings are rebuilding. So why shorten it to save money? Better to pay a little more to get another year or 2, no?
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You are correct, but Larkin obviously wanted to become a UFA at a time when it benefits him greatly. For the Wings to add a few years to the deal is not just adding $18M or so to the deal, as adding two years really affects the age that Larkin becomes a UFA which could cost him 10's of millions of dollars.
In some respect, Johnny did the same.
When (or I guess if) he becomes a UFA, he'll be young enough to have very good leverage to get as maximum deal. if he was 2 years older, it would have affected his negotiating power.
Players are signing deals that don't cover many of their UFA years when they are younger, unless a team really overpays a lot.
The Wings really had no choice here.