Confirmed Signing with Link: [TBL] Lightning re-sign Nikita Kucherov (3 years, $4.766M AAV)

[Firsov99]

It's hard to believe this contract. There has to be a catch to all of this. Unreal.

 

[Hictor Vedman*]

This makes absolutely no sense. Unless he's hoping to sign for 8+ on his next deal.

Back in 2012, Tampa signed Hedman to a four year, 4M AAV deal.

This deal is extremely reminiscent to that. Yzerman somehow convinced Kucherov to take less money, with the promise of a big boy pay day at the end of it (see Hedman's new contract for comparison).

 

[dechire]

Expect that loophole to be scrutinized.....

It's not a loophole. It's the law. Not sure how you expect that to be changed by the NHL. It's also been the law for the entire cap era so why are people acting like it's a new thing ?

 

[Firsov99]

Back in 2012, Tampa signed Hedman to a four year, 4M AAV deal.

This deal is extremely reminiscent to that. Yzerman somehow convinced Kucherov to take less money, with the promise of a big boy pay day at the end of it (see Hedman's new contract for comparison).

If the "the promise of a big boy pay day" is not on paper, then it's worthless. What if Kucherov gets injured before that day comes? This deal favors Tampa tremendously. Good for the team of course.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Back in 2012, Tampa signed Hedman to a four year, 4M AAV deal.

This deal is extremely reminiscent to that. Yzerman somehow convinced Kucherov to take less money, with the promise of a big boy pay day at the end of it (see Hedman's new contract for comparison).

Seems to me Kuch is much more highly regarded now than VH was in 2012. Was VH slated to make $6 and signed for $4? I get wanting to pat Stevie on the back, but this seems like a reach.

 

[Ezekial]

nm I see the difference.

 

[Legionnaire11]

But... hurricanes..

I know that's a sarcastic comment, but seriously the Bay Area (Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater) hasn't taken a direct hit in something like 100 years. It's situated so nicely in regards to the jet stream and the currents that it's nearly impossible for a storm to make landfall there.

 

[Syckle78]

Steve Yzerman is a ****ing wizard and we're stuck with Holland who refused to move up. Yay....

 

[DFC]

It's not a loophole. It's the law. Not sure how you expect that to be changed by the NHL. It's also been the law for the entire cap era so why are people acting like it's a new thing ?

Nobody cared when TB wasn't spending to the cap.

Is it an advantage? Definitely. The weather's not bad either.

 

[Caeldan]

A huge advantage indeed. And an unfair one at that.

Except that they only play half their games in Florida. The other half are out of state and they need to pay the state income tax wherever else they're playing.

It ends up being a relatively insignificant difference in the end. Otherwise why would anyone sign in California? Or New York?

 

[Martinez]

He should fire his agent

 

[Paradise*]

Great deal for Tampa. Kucherov left a lot on the table.

 

[CupsOverCash]

He wants to stay in TB and wants his triplet brothers to stay too. Great day in Tampa Bay!!

#CupsOverCash!!

 

[DFC]

Except that they only play half their games in Florida. The other half are out of state and they need to pay the state income tax wherever else they're playing.

It ends up being a relatively insignificant difference in the end. Otherwise why would anyone sign in California? Or New York?

I think both the Hedman and stamkos deals are set to be paid largely in bonuses.

 

[Hictor Vedman*]

Seems to me Kuch is much more highly regarded now than VH was in 2012. Was VH slated to make $6 and signed for $4? I get wanting to pat Stevie on the back, but this seems like a reach.

No, but for comparison's sake, he was the second leading defender in scoring on the team at the time. The first was that guy named Carle, who got the 5.5M AAV deal in 2012 that haunted Tampa for years.

So, I'd say yes, it was a pretty good steal at the time as well. Especially when you look at the rest of the roster at the time. It was putrid.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Still an RFA at the end?

RFA with arbitration rights, so he's going to have ALL the leverage in 2019.

Still a great contract for Yzerman, but NK is going to get his money. It just might be from someone else in 2020.

 

[ThunderRoad]

It's not a loophole. It's the law. Not sure how you expect that to be changed by the NHL.

No kidding. It's no different than a team using the argument that its city is a great hockey market with youth leagues and has a mystical historical background. Not to mention Florida has pretty high property taxes/cost of housing/home insurance which quickly cancels out the no state income tax, which I found out when I moved back to the state. Was reminded that the "sunshine tax" is still in place.

 

[TampaJay]

Wow, amazing deal for the Lightening, granted, they probably lose him in 4 years when he hits UFA or are going to have shell out big bucks. But that is the consequences of the salary cap, but they have an amazing 3 year window. Regret not taking him earlier in my fantasy draft.

Does this mean Point goes down?

Brayden Point probably stays up while Callahan is on LTIR, but this is unusual. Yzerman likes to overcook prospects. Point is the first AHL eligible rookie in the Yzerman era to make the roster.

 

[dechire]

Nobody cared when TB wasn't spending to the cap.

Is it an advantage? Definitely. The weather's not bad either.

Housing prices are pretty good too. There's a lot of things that make Tampa a desirable place to live.

 

[Hictor Vedman*]

Nobody cared when TB wasn't spending to the cap.

Is it an advantage? Definitely. The weather's not bad either.

Tell that to the Orlando area right now. Seems Florida is always getting some sort of natural disaster...

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

It's not a loophole. It's the law. Not sure how you expect that to be changed by the NHL. It's also been the law for the entire cap era so why are people acting like it's a new thing ?

The advantage is the player clears more than his peers on the same contract value. Nobody is acting like it's a new thing, but when teams play this advantage and sign players to outrageously undermarket deals people start to complain about unfair playing fields and 7% of the salary cap (or whatever the average difference is around the league) is significant.

Simple accounting can easily recognize the % advantage and level this for all teams without impacting the tax laws or the players pay.

I'm just saying I bet it will be a point of discussion by the league, with some wanting the playing field leveled.

 

[CanadienShark]

Not a great deal, but not bad. He'll cash in BIG next time, but until then, he's on a steal of a contract. I think that how this deal is viewed will depend heavily on his next deal.

 

[DFC]

RFA with arbitration rights, so he's going to have ALL the leverage in 2019.

Still a great contract for Yzerman, but NK is going to get his money. It just might be from someone else in 2020.

Maybe, but it's worth the risk to keep this core intact for three years. This was a huge step toward doing that. The cup window is wiiiiide open now.

And TB has plenty of money coming off the books over the next year or two.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

They were right... those numbers do surprise me.

Deserved a lot more that's for sure.

 

[dechire]

The advantage is the player clears more than his peers on the same contract value. Nobody is acting like it's a new thing, but when teams play this advantage and sign players to outrageously undermarket deals start happening people start to complain about unfair playing fields and 7% of the salary cap (or whatever the average difference is around the league) is significant.

Simple accounting can easily recognize the % advantage and level this for all teams without impacting the tax laws or the players pay.

I'm just saying I bet it will be a point of discussion by the league, with some wanting the playing field leveled.

Well there's no way to level the playing field. It's the law. It's not changing no matter how much some high tax markets might complain (while no doubt telling their own players the various benefits of choosing to play in their city)