crystal ball
Registered User
- Mar 30, 2007
- 595
- 11
Okay, I have to say I'm getting tired of reading about how the Habs low-balled Subban on his last contract, how that's going to cost the team big-time in the current negotiations, and how they could have had him long-term at 5 million.
Here's the difference: His last contract was worth 5.75 million. If he signs for about 8 million for 8 years now, that's an average of 6.975 per season over ten years.
If the team had offered him 5 million a year long-term two seasons ago, his agent MIGHT have agreed to 5 years at that price. Don Meehan's no dummy. He knew Subban had the skill to become the Habs best defenseman. Allowing Subban to sign long-term at less than Andrei Markov, who would be playing out his last few seasons during that contract, would have diminished his client's earning potential. With a rising cap, if Subban didn't fulfill his potential and became merely good rather than great, it would still be no problem for him to get another 5 million dollar contract. If he did become a great defenseman...you know, like a Norris winner...he'd be worth a whole lot more. There's no way Meehan would have let him sign at that price for more than 5 years. So, imagine if MB had signed Subban to 5 million over 5 years on the last contract. In three years from now, he'd have to enter negotiations again. Say he THEN signed Subban to 8 million over 8 years on a long term deal, the average Subban would make over the 12 years of his last two contracts would be 6.75 million. That's IF the cap isn't hugely higher then than it is now, allowing him to make more like 9 million a year. In any case, even if he signed long term for 8 million, that's a difference of 200 grand a year over 10-12 years.
So, considering the minor difference in the cost of Subban's contracts long term, can we please, please stop the whining about how "MB's playing hardball with Subban is going to screw the team's cap in the future?" It's just not true.
Here's the difference: His last contract was worth 5.75 million. If he signs for about 8 million for 8 years now, that's an average of 6.975 per season over ten years.
If the team had offered him 5 million a year long-term two seasons ago, his agent MIGHT have agreed to 5 years at that price. Don Meehan's no dummy. He knew Subban had the skill to become the Habs best defenseman. Allowing Subban to sign long-term at less than Andrei Markov, who would be playing out his last few seasons during that contract, would have diminished his client's earning potential. With a rising cap, if Subban didn't fulfill his potential and became merely good rather than great, it would still be no problem for him to get another 5 million dollar contract. If he did become a great defenseman...you know, like a Norris winner...he'd be worth a whole lot more. There's no way Meehan would have let him sign at that price for more than 5 years. So, imagine if MB had signed Subban to 5 million over 5 years on the last contract. In three years from now, he'd have to enter negotiations again. Say he THEN signed Subban to 8 million over 8 years on a long term deal, the average Subban would make over the 12 years of his last two contracts would be 6.75 million. That's IF the cap isn't hugely higher then than it is now, allowing him to make more like 9 million a year. In any case, even if he signed long term for 8 million, that's a difference of 200 grand a year over 10-12 years.
So, considering the minor difference in the cost of Subban's contracts long term, can we please, please stop the whining about how "MB's playing hardball with Subban is going to screw the team's cap in the future?" It's just not true.