from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Victor Rask, Carolina’s second-round pick in 2011, has 32 career goals. Sixteen players from Rask’s draft class have scored more than the Carolina forward, paced by Gabriel Landeskog, who has pumped in 100 pucks.

Yet two seasons of NHL play were enough for his employer to reward Rask with a six-year, $24 million contract last Tuesday. It’s a generous payday for a 23-year-old who has to yet to define himself as a consistent go-to threat. But 160 games of NHL data were enough for the Hurricanes to make a long-term bet that Rask, who is coming off shoulder surgery, will fulfill the expectations of his new deal — and perhaps even become a bargain.

It’s good for both players and organizations to commit to long-term contracts. Players become comfortable with security. They do not need to worry about injuries or performance in search of the next deal. Franchises are better off because they lock in assets to contracts that might seem pricey at first, but generally become sound investments later in the deal.

The trick is for teams to make accurate forecasts, which is not easy coming off entry-level contracts. Some teams might not consider a two-year NHLer such as Rask a sure thing.

Ryan Strome, for example, also has 32 career goals. Strome, selected fifth overall in 2011, was demoted for an eight-game AHL stint in 2015-16. Strome is a restricted free agent. A long-term extension is not guaranteed. The Islanders may not believe that Strome’s 189-game NHL portfolio is sturdy enough to make a long-term declaration.

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