Any cap gurus know of any tricks we can do to make a slightly smaller cap hit more attractive? I'm guessing it will take 7.5-7.75 but if we could get out of this at 7.25 I would be very happy.
Maybe give him 10 million a year first 3 years to get him going? The cap hits is the average anyway...
The cap hit is going to be whatever the total value of the contract is divided by the number of years. I don't think the cap hit goes up or down, it's just constant.
But there's a couple things that I know of that makes offers much more attractive to players:
1. Give more money up front - for ex: if the contract is 7.5M per year, give him 9 or 9.5M per year for the first 3 years. Players want the money in their pockets, not the expected.
2. A NTC is a good thing, but a NMC is great - it gives that player complete certainty that they can not be moved. So whenever theres' rumors, they know they're not a part of it b/c they have the NMC. For ex if ROR's camp starts at 7.75 - the sabres can counter and say we'll give you 7.25 plus a NMC every year of the contract.
And I agree with you, if we get this guy long term signed for 7.25M per year, I would be ecstatic with that. I hope we don't sign him for 8 though, that's tough to take.