GMs get smarter, stingier with free-agent signings
One might be the loneliest number, but it was also the most popular on the first day of NHL free agency.
From Chris Kunitz and Patrick Sharp to Scott Hartnell and Mike Cammalleri, about 25 players — not including RFAs and minor leaguers — received new deals. Another 15 or so lucky ones were able to squeeze a second year out of their future bosses.
But with the exception of the Montreal Canadiens, who gave five years and US$23.125 million to Karl Alzner and a day later locked up Carey Price for eight years and US$84 million, most general man- agers had commitment issues this year.
Of the crush of players who signed new contracts on Canada Day, only eight received so- called long- term deals of three years or more. Kevin Shattenkirk and Nick Bonino signed the only four- year contracts, while Alzner received the closest thing resembling Rick DiPietro’s 15-year, US$67.5-million albatross from 2006. Evgeny Kuznetsov agreed to a US$ 62.4- million, eight-year deal with the Washington Capitals on Sunday night, but he was a restricted free agent.
The weekend reflected just how shallow this year’s pool of free agents was, but it also served as a sign that general managers might finally be learning.
It used to be that teams would try to keep under the salary cap by spreading out the dollars over a longer term. That’s why Vincent Lecavalier got 11 years and US$ 85 million in 2008 and Ilya Bryzgalov signed for nine years and US$ 51 million in 2011. Even David Clarkson received a massive sevenyear commitment from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013, with then- GM Dave Nonis commenting “I’m not worried about ( Year) 6 or 7 right now. I’m worried about ( Year) 1.”
Indeed, Nonis wasn’t worried about the long- term implications of the contract because he figured he wouldn’t have a job by then and someone else would have to clean up his mess. He was sort of right in that regard. But today’s general managers still make franchise-crippling mistakes ( see: Milan Lucic’s seven-year, US$42-million contract from last year) most are thinking about tomorrow to keep their jobs today.
Instead of giving Steve Mason a four-year contract worth US$3 million per season, the Winnipeg Jets went two years and US$8.2 million. It was obviously a more costly cap hit, but if Mason doesn’t work out, he and his US$ 4.1- million salary are gone in a couple of years.
By then, the hope is, the Jets’ other goalie, 24- year- old Connor Hellebuyck, will assume the No. 1 job. At the very least, it gives the team flexibility — something the Tampa Bay Lightning were also mindful of when signing veteran Dan Girardi to a two- year stopgap contract while defence prospect Mikhail Sergachev learns the ropes.
Either way, a fear of commitment means the team won’t be in salary cap hell at this time next year.
That has been a general theme so far in this year’s free agency period. Teams are not just thinking about this season, but are looking ahead to what next summer and the one after that will bring. They are contemplating which young players on entry- level contracts will need bigger deals. They might even be mindful of the big- name players who could be available on July 1 in 2018 and 2019.
If you thought this year’s crop of free agents lacked star power, you might be slightly more impressed when Canada Day rolls around next year.
John Tavares, Paul Stastny, James van Riemsdyk and John Carlson are a few of the names that could be available in 2018. Two years from now, a who’s who of stars, including Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Tyler Seguin, Logan Couture and Artemi Panarin, will need new deals.
Most of them won’t get anywhere close to the open market, and to make sure they don’t, teams have to ensure they have room to fit them under the cap. You can’t do that if money is tied up in Joe Thornton ( one year, US$ 6 million) or Justin Williams (two years, US$9 million).
Another reason to go short-term rather than long- term is the collective bargaining agreement can be re- opened in September 2020. It is perhaps why Price reportedly is receiving US$70 million in signing bonuses, and it could explain why most GMs were worried about handing out term that stretched past that date.
It was a forward- thinking move from a collective group that is usually concerned with winning now and worrying later. Then again, let’s not give them too much credit: By the time the trade deadline rolls around next year, these same GMs will most likely be giving up firstround picks again for the latest flavour of the month.
TEAMS ARE NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS SEASON, BUT ARE LOOKING AHEAD TO (NEXT) SUMMER.