Nashville Predators’ general manager recently publically announced that he had offered Filip Forsberg an eight-year deal to stay in town and avoid free agency, and now Forsberg’s agent has done the same. JP Barry told Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV that they are talking about an eight-year deal and though he noted they are not yet in agreement on salary, the two sides are grinding away at it.
The Predators are the only team that is allowed to offer Forsberg an eight-year deal at the moment, and even that right will expire in two weeks when free agency begins. The 40-goal winger will turn 28 in August, meaning a contract of that length would take him well into his mid-thirties and potentially represent the final big payday of his career.
- Ryan Ellis has played in just four games for the Philadelphia Flyers since they acquired him in the summer of 2021 and that total may not increase for a while. When speaking with media including Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic, general manager Chuck Fletcher explained that there is still plenty of work to do in Ellis’ rehab and would not confirm that the veteran defenseman will be ready for the start of the season. Ellis, who was acquired for Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick, has five years remaining on his contract and carries a cap hit of $6.25MM.
- The Winnipeg Jets had an option as part of the Andrew Copp trade to take either the St. Louis Blues 2022 second-round pick or the New York Rangers 2023 second. They’ve chosen the former, relays Murat Ates of The Athletic, which will be the 55th overall selection this year. While the 2023 draft is generally considered deeper, the Jets obviously feel as though it is more beneficial to get a player into their system right away.
Nashville will regret this contract. I think for the good of the game overall contracts should be maxed at five years. Period.
L
Sure, in 4 or 5 years FF’s production will likely slow down, just as Gabriel Landeskog’s production will slow down in the final years of his contract and many other star players who sign 7 or 8 year deals. You’re paying for 4 or 5, and if your lucky, 6 years of high end production.
The current cap system rarely allows you to sign a good player at the perfect salary and perfect term. But if you determine the good years will be worth a few down years, you have to do it if you want to win hockey games.
My biggest fear here is that Poile, as he has done in the past, claims this re-signing was his big free agent splash when in fact it just kept the team at status quo. He needs to add a top 6 winger this off season as well (I like Brian La Rose’ Burakovsky suggestion)