Staal contract = Backstrom contract foundation/basis or just the beginning?

by ns on Jan 8, 2009 1:02 PM EST

So, Mr. J.Staal has been awarded a 4yr/$16mil contract, per TSN, by the slumping Penguins (had to get that in there).

How do you think this affects Backstrom's target salary and length, as he is the next big signing of our team's core?

I'm thinking it will be very close to Mike Green's terms...

- check out zee poll -

General cap figures for your reference:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/team.php?team=WAS

Poll

how much $ per year for the nifty Swede? (all figures in millions)

3.5 - 3.99

4 votes

4.0 - 4.49

23 votes

4.5 - 4.99

35 votes

5.0 - 5.49

35 votes

5.5 - 5.99

21 votes

6.0 - 6.49

8 votes

6.5 - we're F'ed

1 votes

127 votes | Poll has closed

If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.

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Comments

I’d like to see him come in at just under Green’s green. That still puts him above Staal and guys like Savard. I think Nick is around a $5M guy.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 8, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions

Btw, I don’t think the Caps can extend him until July 1 of this year at the earliest, b/c he’s not in the final year of his entry level deal yet.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 8, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

I think that’s wishful thinking. I voted $5.5- to $6-million, which would make sense given his production. Staal is not a very good comparable at all given his meagre production.

There’s no grace period anymore for these guys; they make big coin immediately.

by James Mirtle on Jan 8, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

But the movement of the cap, heaven willing, will impact salaries, no?

What am I talking about. These are NHL owners. Of course “no.”

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 8, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, and c’mon, NS – these are FanPosts… make with the grammar and punctuation, k? :)

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Jan 8, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions

done :)

by ns on Jan 8, 2009 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

Side question though....

How is Backstrom the “next big signing” over Semin, who has one year left before being an RFA in ‘10-’11?

Especially with the unspoken question of : Are we willing to pay him what his potential talent is clearly worth despite how injury prone the guy appears to be (or as it is known: his “Briereism”)

Because if we are not, you know there are more then a few GM’s standing buy with their checkbooks ready.

by Wisper on Jan 8, 2009 1:12 PM EST reply actions

Good question

I think it’s a bigger signing because I think the Caps know he’s a definite keeper. Semin, IMO, is still a question mark for many reasons, one of which you noted.

no doubt its hard to find snipers of Semin’s caliber, its just going to be a tougher decision for GMGM, I believe.

by ns on Jan 8, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

is if Semin has a really, really bad (low scoring and injured) RFA year. i can’t see justifying more than he’s making now given his enigma status. of course i could completely change my tune if he’s suddenly holding the conn smythe trophy.

by macvechkin on Jan 8, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

…which is the kind of thing he’s capable of doing.

I agree with all that Backstrom is the higher priority, but Semin is a close second. I would play more of a wait-and-see with Semin. He’s older, more injury prone, is at less of a need position, and doesn’t have as rocky a past with the team. I still want the Caps to retain him with a big contract, but I’d be less heartbroken to take the first round picks we’d get if he bolted as a RFA .

by grapejoos on Jan 8, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

The thing with Semin, I think, is you shouldn’t worry so much about him signing an offer sheet, you should worry about him signing in the KHL. From everything he’s said it sounds like he doesn’t relish the thought of changing teams, so if he did make himself go through that trouble I think you’re more likely to see him going home than adjusting to a new American/Canadian city. You never know of course…

by brs03 on Jan 8, 2009 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

That is a good point that I hadn’t considered. I’ll be interesting to see how the KHL is doing then – you’d think the dropping oil prices have hurt some of the deeper pockets – and they didn’t seem to lure as many stars as some suspected this past offseason.

But yeah. Good point. Crap.

by grapejoos on Jan 8, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

Backstrom is going to get paid significantly more than Staal. I really hope we get him locked in this summer rather than next so that we don’t have to pay even more, but either way he’s getting over 5 mil and probably closer to/above 6. Look at the Stastny and Kopitar deals and maybe (MAYBE) subtract a bit because those two are looked at as franchise players while Backstrom isn’t (Backstrom is or will shortly be better than both, but it’s a different role for the team so he’s not going to command as much probably).

by brs03 on Jan 8, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions

In proportion.

No one on the Capitals team will get the same kind of “franchise player” status unless they get a red marker and draw a big “8” on their jersey and hope no one notices.

by Wisper on Jan 8, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

That’s what I mean. Backstrom’s not a franchise player like Kopitar or Stastny are (or are looked to be, if you will) but he is/will be better than both of them. How those two factors balance is tough to figure but you have to imagine that’s the neighborhood barring a discount.

by brs03 on Jan 8, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Their jerseys are red, so no body could see this eight anyway.

by Ovechkin on Jan 10, 2009 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with JP re $5M

I think you’re looking at a deal in the neighborhood of $5M/year, potentially more if his numbers this year keep up with his current pace. He’s in the Carter/Getzlaf group of high-scoring youngsters, and they make $5M and $5.35M respectively (and he’s outplaying E. Staal at $4.5M).

by Scott in Shaw on Jan 8, 2009 1:54 PM EST reply actions

Oops

I was looking at cap hit numbers, not salary. Next year’s salary for those I mentioned:

Carter – $5.25M
Getzlaf – $5.125M
Staal – $6M

Point remains the same. Nicky is due for a big raise (in ’10-11).

by Scott in Shaw on Jan 8, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

after looking at what the top 20 highest paid centers are making, Nick fits very nicely in the group including Getzlaf (dammit!!) Richards, Bergeron—how about 5yrs/28M?.

E. Staal’s contract is gonna be an onerous for Carolina, imo—he’ll be the fifth highest paid center (with the current contracts in place) in the NHL in two years. He isn’t going to be the tenth best C in the conference. But he is a Staal, so, he’s got that goin’ for him….

by bigonetimer on Jan 8, 2009 5:35 PM EST up reply actions

That’s pretty much the ballpark. It’s gonna be over $5m. Backstrom is an elite player, every bit as good as those guys, IMO.

by grapejoos on Jan 8, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

$6m+ in his second contract? Mr. and Mrs. Backstrom, I didn’t know you were here.

"Good crowd out there tonight, boys, let's really try to win this one."

by Bald Pollack on Jan 8, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions

Retention Priority

In looking at Backstrom and Semin, the priority is no doubt keeping Backstrom. He’ll be making at least $5.5M per year. No doubt, we’d like to keep both, but the salary cap may dwindle for 2010/2011. Honestly, I would bet that both players also want to stay here long-term.

by Dougeb on Jan 8, 2009 10:30 PM EST reply actions

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