Image is from “Spittin’ Chiclets”
Sid led the way in “hometown discount” contracts amongst the “Core.” Money was left on the table to ensure there’d be enough to build a competitive team. Letang and Malkin did it as well and then again over the last 2 years. Sid will likely do one more, team and cap friendly, deal to ensure what’s left of the window still has the potential to be maxinized.
As a fan, I will forever be grateful to have watched the team since the late 80s, the transition from the “old guard,” to the pain of the “X generation,” and then into the Crosby era. Thanks, Mr. Crosby, for being the leader of this team and setting an example for the rest of the guys to follow by not taking a max (or near max) money contract to enrich just yourself.
As for Matthews, he’ll get to try for another contract (if healthy) while he’s still under 30 AND the cap will have gone up by then. Good for him. But, yikes, given the current hard cap structure. With that contract, he’ll be paid more than MacKinnon and McDavid.
by Stitch_Jones_Recon
14 Comments
What Sid and the gang did was big for the team, no doubt. But I also understand Matthews too, money is more of a “safe life bet” as taking a discount is no guarantee of a cup.
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Incidentally, I wonder what percentage of NHL players are more interested in maximizing earnings over winning a cup.
Crosby’s deal kicked in during the 2013 season and accounted for about 14% of the team’s total salary cap. Matthews’ deal will kick in during the 2024 season and account for about 15% of the team’s total salary cap if it goes up to the projected 87.5 – 88 million. Not that huge of a difference.
Tired: Matthews’ new contract means Dubas won’t sign him to the Pens next offseason
Wired: Matthews’ new contract expires just in time for the Pens to add him with Crosby on his last pre-retirement contract at only 0.87M
once the cap increases this is going to be extremely reasonable and team friendly. the kid is insanely talented and his generation needs to be making better money. sid deserved more too
Crosby’s cap hit was not seen as this massive “hometown discount” at the time. Below cap max, yes, but it was still a big chunk of the max cap.
Also, players are allowed to be paid their fair market value and is healthier for players around the league when that happens as well.
Gonna be a little harder for Dubas to pull off the trade in a few years from now lol
Really curious to see what crosbys next contract will end up being. I know he’ll sign something, will probably be short and could very well be for 8.7 AAV again.
There wasn’t a discount with Crosby’s contract…
Matthews biggest flaw is his inability to stay healthy. He has a better shooting percentage than Ovechkin and a solid points per game and plus minus.
Can’t say how much of a leader he is, but he’s in cursed Toronto so he’s not going to win a cup there. Just ask 3 time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel.
Anyone else hope to see the Pens vs Leafs in the playoffs?
Matthew’s *is* taking a discount
Sid quote from Spittin Chiclets
“I think the max at that time was $10.5 (million). I remember I was willing to take a little less. But taking a little less doesn’t work if everyone doesn’t take a little less… Geno took a little less, Tanger took a little less, Kuny took a little less. And it worked out.”
Crosby didn’t take a hometown discount. The cap was much lower, and Crosby took up around the same percentage of the cap as matthews just took with his new deal
I just always assumed Crosby was on an 8.7mil a year deal bc he is superstitious, not because he was taking a hometown discount