Clearly, this contract is a HUGE Lombardi win:
1) Term: DL was all about term and DD giving up UFA status in exchange for $. So now he’s signed what could still be the best LA d-man ever for 8 years while giving up 3 (or 4) years of UFA and adding to the long-term core of MR, Kopi, JJ, DB, JQ, and JW with a number of good entry-level contracts coming in? HUGE DL Win. The onus now is on the players to get it done on the ice.
2) Salary: I believe DL was never hamstrung by the so-called “Kopi-Max” because Kopi already got his. TL pretty much confirmed that DL had the green light from Ownership to move past that threshold. But by using it in the media, knowing that DD can never fully justify why he should be paid MUCH MORE that Kopi NOW, DL outmaneuvered DM, who some suggest has a personal grind to axe against Anze. So DD got his $ and the bragging rights for the highest salary-age ratio in the league. Boo-****ing-hoo. Now the pressure is on him to prove his worth to his teammates and fans, instead of DL justifying the salary. HUGE DL win.
And loathe him if you must, but I am convinced that Helene’s interview with Lieweke, and the forceful but cryptic message to DD just yesterday, had a big hand in getting this done today. It’s no coincidence folks.
Clearly, this contract is a HUGE Lombardi win:
1) Term: DL was all about term and DD giving up UFA status in exchange for $. So now he’s signed what could still be the best LA d-man ever for 8 years while giving up 3 (or 4) years of UFA and adding to the long-term core of MR, Kopi, JJ, DB, JQ, and JW with a number of good entry-level contracts coming in? HUGE DL Win. The onus now is on the players to get it done on the ice.
2) Salary: I believe DL was never hamstrung by the so-called “Kopi-Max” because Kopi already got his. TL pretty much confirmed that DL had the green light from Ownership to move past that threshold. But by using it in the media, knowing that DD can never fully justify why he should be paid MUCH MORE that Kopi NOW, DL outmaneuvered DM, who some suggest has a personal grind to axe against Anze. So DD got his $ and the bragging rights for the highest salary-age ratio in the league. Boo-****ing-hoo. Now the pressure is on him to prove his worth to his teammates and fans, instead of DL justifying the salary. HUGE DL win.
And loathe him if you must, but I am convinced that Helene’s interview with Lieweke, and the forceful but cryptic message to DD just yesterday, had a big hand in getting this done today. It’s no coincidence folks.
Awesome deal. Finally. Great job, Deano & Co. Way to ink the kid for the next decade (almost).
So, cap experts, where does this leave our team? How much can we throw at FA's next year?
Penner's & Stoll are off the books. Mitchell is too but I would still resign him for another 2 years.
Penner & Stoll would free up about $7.6m. We also, I think, have $2.7m in cap space already, which would bring our available space next year up to $10.3 plus whatever the cap increase is.
And loathe him if you must, but I am convinced that Helene’s interview with Lieweke, and the forceful but cryptic message to DD just yesterday, had a big hand in getting this done today. It’s no coincidence folks.
Penner's & Stoll are off the books. Mitchell is too but I would still resign him for another 2 years.
Penner & Stoll would free up about $7.6m. We also, I think, have $2.7m in cap space already, which would bring our available space next year up to $10.3 plus whatever the cap increase is.
Are my numbers correct ?
close... it depends on Hunter's contract. A little less than $2.7M right now. Penner+Stoll are 7.85M combined. You're in the ballpark.
I wanna see the type of season Penner has this year before I think of him as coming off the books. He's such a big body with such great hands... if he's in shape and has that net presence and improves the PP, I'd try to re-sign him...if not, then let him go and go hard for ZP!
Kings need to improve the Man advantage by 15 - 20 goals this year and he is a big key to that (with Richards and Gagne of course).
Finally. Thank you, Doughty. Looking forward to cheering extra hard for number 8 for 8 more years! Feels like we have all the pieces now, can it be October 7th yet?
It has to be said: why couldn't this have been signed in July? Lombardi got what he wanted. He always said he would make Drew the highest paid King if the term was right. 8 years is the right term and $7 million is only $200k more than Kopitar.
Thank you, Doughty. Looking forward to cheering extra hard for number 8 for 8 more years! Feels like we have all the pieces now, can it be October 7th yet?
