I think Little should slot in at around 4.5 million. We use him as a #1 centre, realistically he'd slot in the #2 spot, in my opinion. Ladd got 4.4 (cap hit) and 4.5 in actual dollars in the final 3 seasons here of his contract signed two summers ago on a 5-year deal after he showed to be a fairly consistent 45-60 point winger and coming off a 30 goal season. Little has proven he can be a very reliable and consistent 45-50 point centre, log those key minutes and while he may not be a league-wide coveted #1 centre, he does indeed get the job done pretty responsibly. He deserves to be paid accordingly, in my opinion. I'd be happy getting Little to a 4 year deal worth 18 million, 4.5 per season cap hit. With that being said, Little could also be a UFA next July, so he has that leverage, and I think a team would easily give him 4.5-5 million. So we'll need to slot somewhere in that ballpark, I think.
4 years, 18 million, 4.5 per season in actual dollars and cap hit, but we may have to push the envelope here to around the 4.8 mark in those UFA years.
Wheeler in my opinion should get a deal in and around 26.5 million over 5 years, cap hit of 5.3 million. Top 6 wingers who can produce 60+ points get paid, and given Wheeler could be a UFA a year from now, we will need to pay him. He could easily get 5.5-6 million as a UFA in my opinion. And if he puts up 60-65+ points this season, many teams would love to sign that type of RW. I like the contract numbers/years I think he'll get and should get, and Winnipeg is a good fit for Blake.
5 years, 26.5 million, 5.3 per season cap hit.
Year 1 - 4.5 million (Final year of RFA status)
Year 2 through 5 - 5.5 million (4 years of UFA status)
At the end of the day while Winnipeg appears a good fit for both Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little, in my opinion they carry all the leverage here given they could go to arbitration and become UFA next July. We'll need to give them close to what they're demanding and what they would likely get as UFA's. We're buying some key years here from these players.
Ironically enough, the salaries I think Little and Wheeler will get fall in line with their jersey #'s.