Why are people always under the impression players just lose a limb when they turn 33 or 34? He will have a few more prime years and still be productive on the back end. I wouldn't do 7. Max 5 years. Look at Pavelski who everyone is saying is soooooooo old. Guy potted 38 goals and 40 the year before. Stop watching stat lines and watch the player play. Scouts do this for amateurs, why does this practice fall off for pros just because they are in their early to mid 30s? A player doesn't have a 12 year shelf life from 18 to 30. You negotiate contracts accordingly and wisely. Pavelski should get a 2-3 year deal and Lee getting a 5 would be fine. Even 6 is fine. By then a lot will change and we can once again look to move Palat, Johnson, Killorn or shed salary in some other way.
Continuously writing off options for the future hasn't won us a cup with this core in 5 years. Eventually your core deteriorates and at some point taking a gamble to win it needs to be done, or you'll blink and 5-10 years later you're the sharks, or....just the bolts.
