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Habs Refuse to Commit Long-Term to Gorges |
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I spent the majority of the weekend trying to decipher the logic behind signing Josh Gorges to a one-year contract extension worth 2.5 million dollars (actually, I was playing a lot of golf). Didn't have much trouble coming up reasons for why it makes plenty of sense for the Canadiens. Absolutely baffled about how it makes sense for Gorges.
Here's what I've come up with. Gorges is loyal to a fault, and it could burn him more than it already has. I respect that, because loyalty in sport is about as dead as hammer pants in hip hop videos.
It was a major concession on his behalf to sign this one-year deal when he could've easily won a 2-year settlement worth more through arbitration. Was his decision based on the worry that the Canadiens were so far off the page Gorges and his agent were on that arbitration may have seen Pierre Gauthier walk away from the final decision?
Was he comfortable with the idea of having to prove himself once more before cashing in with the Canadiens?
Was he conceding to the fact that he wasn't going to get the contract he was looking for, and better to sign this one than to force Gauthier and the Canadiens into the discomfort that arbitration provides, potentially decreasing his value to other suitors if he's forced to unrestricted free agency next year or the year after?
The Canadiens have acknowledged Gorges' role as a leader in their room, as a calming influence on best friend Carey Price, as a player who would sacrifice anything for his teammates. In this case, they've asked him to sacrifice his current worth for what will likely amount to a negligible financial gain next summer (in relation to what he would've signed for had they worked out a long-term deal).
It's a frugal signing by a frugal general manager who now has 5 million dollars in cap space to work with. I can appreciate that people are looking at that upside and congratulating Gauthier for his smart work ahead of an expiring CBA. Then again, would it have mattered that much if he only had 4 million dollars left?
I know...every penny counts. But at what cost?
Gorges' 2.5 this year could've been inflated to 3.5 for the UFA years. Maybe 4 mil in the last year of his contract, if it were a long one. If it were a 4-year deal structured exactly like that; 2.5, 3.5, 3.5, 4, it would've put Gorges at an annual average of 3.37 mil.
Consider this an oversimplification, but when you have a player who's as committed as Gorges' has proven to be; a player who's as dependable as he's proven to be; a player identified as a key to the harmony of the room, you should strive to make him happy. He may not be the key to winning, but he's the kind of player you win with. He can't possibly be happy with this deal.
Looking at things realistically, Gauthier must feel that with the elements he has in Montreal, he isn't ready to commit long-term to Gorges. He can operate under the guise that he wants to test Gorges' recuperation to ensure his investment, but this has more to do with the cap and what's in the pipeline than it does with any skepticism over a healthy return for Gorges.
Alexei Emelin and Jarred Tinordi might not cost them as much as Gorges will over the term of a 5 or 6-year contract. It's not to say either are as good, or can be as good, or will be as good. But if they are, this is an area of the club where they may feel they can save money. This management group doesn't exactly have a track record of ponying up big dollars for defensemen with absolutely zero offensive upside.
If all that is true, Gorges' future in Montreal is much more uncertain than we would've imagined, given our knowledge of his closeness with Price and his role as a leader on a team that has plenty of Stanley Cup experience.
With 2.5 in the bank for just one season, his future with the team is anything but certain. All he has to go on is faith, really. He can justify it by looking at what the team did with Plekanec to avoid arbitration, handsomely rewarding him after he proved himself again. Slightly different situation, because Plekanec had an abysmal year before he came to terms on a 2.75-million dollar contract that would motivate him to earn his big money from the Canadiens, and Gorges is coming off a brutal injury/rehab process.
When it comes down to it, the majority of Canadiens fans wanted to see Gorges come to a long-term agreement, and he certainly wanted the same. It seems Gauthier and the Canadiens were unwilling to make that commitment with the negotiations they'll have in front of them after what could be career-years for Price and Subban. Stuck with 5 of 6 top-earning forwards for at least the next three seasons (we'll see if Gomez makes it that long), they may have had an average of 3.5 mil/season to spend on a player, but they're not ready for that player to be Gorges.
If Gorges does fulfill his promise this season, he's still not assured a contract with the Canadiens. Negotiations with Price and Subban could bleed well into the summer, past July 1st, and it seems hard to believe the Habs will deem Gorges a priority and give him a fair negotiation if they decide to deal with him before they come to terms with either Price or Subban.
Here's hoping he plays his best and is rewarded as he should be, by the end of it. With so many players earning undeserved money, you can't say he isn't worth every penny on this contract.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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