Any 9 figure annual salary where the beginning of it doesn't start with a 7.
In all seriousness, I think a 6.75 to 6.95 x 6 would be a "hometown discount" considering it's very likely he'll be offered more like 7.5 or more by the Devils and maybe Sabres. He'd be leaving close to 6 million or more over the life of the contract on the table just to come here.
And if Tampa is as involved as what we've heard and read, considering the "no state tax" advantage Florida teams have, he'd be saving about half a million in taxes per year even if he was offered the same amount I propose up above which would be a savings of close to 4 million. It would be even more if TBay offers him a 7-7.5 per type contract.
Bottom line: Shatty really needs to want to come here in order for this to get done.
My feeling is he does. I just hope and pray the money he would leave on the table is not over the $10 million mark over the life of the contract he gets seeing that would be really really hard to just let go. Hmmm....tomorrow can't get here soon enough.
Popcorn and Blue Moon beer is ready to roll...