Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Staying Away From Bridge Deals

07/13/2016 at 9:48am EDT

from Colton Praill of Sportsnet,

This off-season has already been a prime example as more teams stray from the bridge deal. The Colorado Avalanche inked 20-year-old Nathan MacKinnon to a seven-year $6.3-million contract that already has captured the hearts of Avs fans. Not to be outdone, Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff locked Mark Scheifele down for the next eight years to the tune of $6.125 million.

The Hurricanes and Panthers have also done the same signing Victor Rask and Vincent Trocheck to long-term deals.

Although the initial cost of these contracts may seem high in comparison to their bodies of work, the contracts are signed on a mentality opposite to the typical NHL contract. Instead of paying a player for what they’ve done, teams are paying players for what they’re going to do.

It’s a situation that offers positives for all parties involved. From a players’ perspective it’s job security; a promise that the team is willing to commit to them for the foreseeable future. For the team it’s a contract that, if your evaluation of the player pans out, will be well below market value when they enter their prime – especially as the cap continues to rise.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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