7 Year Contracts For F/A's Yes/No/Maybe?

[Bullseye]

Do you think long term contracts like those handed out to many big name players around the league is a good(safe) practice?

Would you like to the Leafs do this again once we trade ours away?

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[Cor]

Can we go back to Burke's 5 year cap?

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

Depends on the player. Core players should be locked up long term.

 

[LV*]

Only give ELITE players contracts over 5 years, not third liners like Clarkson...

 

[Mess]

Good teams build and bad teams buy their talent at inflated prices via UFA.

Except for few elite stars that might hit the market, a team should only add short-term filler contracts at reasonable prices.

Leafs should be looking for more Santorelli / Winnik type signings and stay away from the 7 year Clarkson deals.

 

[Suntouchable13]

Can we go back to Burke's 5 year cap?

There shouldn't be a cap like that. GMs just need to use their own judgement on who to sign to 5+ year contracts, and who not. So if Stamkos becomes a UFA, you'd still have that self imposed cap on length of contracts?

 

[Dylbot]

There's nothing wrong with them in theory. But they should only be used on elite level players that have been consistent over the years and you know what you're paying for. Giving kessel that contract makes perfect sense, Phanuef is debatable, and Clarkson was moronic.

 

[Mystifo]

This is a case by case basis for me. There is no clear cut answer. I mean would I give Peter Holland a 7 year contract? Not likely unless the cap hit was SUPER LOW. But Would I be looking to lock up say a guy like Seth Jones? Yep 100%.


If they are a top 3 FWD or a top pairing D or a top 10 goalie in the league I would 100% lock them up long term.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I say it depends on the type of player available. For example on July 1, 2016 if Steven Stamkos is a UFA I highly doubt anyone would object to him signing him to a 7 year contract.

 

[ironhorse384]

If you draft a guy and he ends up being, say a Stamkos, then ya you lock him up long term but the leafs haven't drafted anyone like that in my lifetime.

 

[johnny_rudeboy]

If you draft a guy and he ends up being, say a Stamkos, then ya you lock him up long term but the leafs haven't drafted anyone like that in my lifetime.

Rask perhaps? Top 10 if not top 5 at his position.

 

[Trapper]

Do you think long term contracts like those handed out to many big name players around the league is a good(safe) practice?

Would you like to the Leafs do this again once we trade ours away?

Only the players I have identified as true core players, 1C, 1D, G, another D and another C/W would be locked up long term. You don't lock up role players or specialists long term.

 

[Canada4Gold]

I'd say no, unless they were an all star type, but they rarely make it to FA.

 

[ironhorse384]

Rask perhaps? Top 10 if not top 5 at his position.

Let me rephrase: A player the leafs drafted and did not trade away for a bag of pucks.

 

[htpwn]

I put 'No: 5 years or under max is the only smart option.'

There are a few exceptions to that (ex. Stamkos) but they are so far and in-between.

Any player who's not a superstar is simply not worth the risk on a 7-year deal.

 

[WTFMAN99]

It would need to be a legit 1st line player or top pairing defenseman. On top of that it would require timing.

If the UFA is 27 and we're still bottom of the league and have not solved our 1st line centre problems or a top pairing defenseman yet, then we should not sign that player.

 

[Menzinger]

As a general rule, I prefer 5 being the max I'd prefer a team go.

However, if a big name goes to free agency (like a Ryan Suter) you've got to be willing to offer the longer term to get the player.

 

[Bullseye]

Kessel - 8 years

Phaneuf - 7 years

Clarkson - 7 years (TG he's gone)

Lupul - 5

Gardiner - 4 years

Bernier - 5?

Rielly - 5?

Kadri - 5?

 

[LeafsNation75]

Kessel - 8 years

Phaneuf - 7 years

Clarkson - 7 years (TG he's gone)

Lupul - 5

Gardiner - 4 years

Bernier - 5?

Rielly - 5?

Kadri - 5?

I can see the Leafs re-signing Rielly to the same type of deal that Gardiner signed last July.

 

[Judas Tavares]

There should be a rule that if you are 25 or older you only sign max for 5 years. Something like that. Seriously these players are rarely living up to these deals and within a few years they are so not worth it, that their careers get ruined. Look at Richards and Lecavalier. Terrible for the game. When it comes to this subject, Burke knows what he's talking about. Too many players are becoming irrelevant by the time they are 30.

 

[LeafsNation75]

There should be a rule that if you are 25 or older you only sign max for 5 years. Something like that. Seriously these players are rarely living up to these deals and within a few years they are so not worth it, that their careers get ruined. Look at Richards and Lecavalier. Terrible for the game. When it comes to this subject, Burke knows what he's talking about. Too many players are becoming irrelevant by the time they are 30.

When Brad Richards had signed that 9 year deal with the Rangers in July 2011, I don't think he was playing bad at that time.

Now as for Lecavalier considering how his play got worse in Tampa Bay and the injuries he had with them, the Flyers never should have signed him to a 5 year contract in July 2013.

 

[colchar]

Only for elite players (ie. if Stamkos hit the market and signed here, he should get it without hesitation). For players who are not elite? No.

And I am not saying Stamkos would, I was simply using him as an example.

 

[middletoe]

Seven years is too long for my liking. Too risky and unhealthy for the league in general.

I'd like to see it shorter and maybe be able to extend it a year earlier instead. I'd actually like to hear reasons why being able to extend sooner is not a good idea before I say I like it.

 

[Anthrax442]

I think in sports anything over 3-4 years is stupid. 7 is just asking for trouble.

 

[Al14]

I think contract terms should be 5 years or less! Also, I'd like to get rid of guaranteed contracts. I'd also like to see the end of no movement, no trade clauses!