All the talk happened yesterday, and the actually drawing of ink happened last night and this morning.
First off, the big boy. Gaborik has re-signed with the Kings on a 7-year extension with an average cap hit of about $4.8MM.
Here is a breakdown of the years.
Marian Gaborik's #LAKings extension: $6.075M, $6.075M, $6.075M, $5.075M, $4.575M, $3.175M and $3.075M.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 25, 2014That, to me, is a phenomenal deal.
Yes it's a 7-year term on a player in his early 30's, but if that's what it took to keep Gaborik in LA along with keeping his cap hit relatively low then there was no question it had to be done. Might I also mention that the final few years of the deal are low enough that if Gaborik were to retire the penalty would be nothing under the new CBA. It definitely isn't cap circumvention in the manner we saw before the last lockout, but it definitely is a new form of front-loading contracts. The deal is structured in a pretty friendly way for the Kings.
It is definitely a bargain for a player who is still an elite level goal scorer and also was integral in making the Kings offense go from near nothing to something in the post-season. Need I remind everyone of this,
When Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar were on ice together at 5v5 in the regular season & playoffs, the Kings outscored opponents 30 to 14.
— Robert Paredes (@RobertJFTC) June 25, 2014Since Gaborik has come to L.A., Kopitar has had a partner in crime. Before that it was a rotation of Brown, Carter, and Williams, but nothing quite stuck like the tandem of Kopitar-Gaborik. Rejoice fans, because this is a huge deal. Especially when you consider that a player like David Clarkson currently has a $5.25MM cap hit and Dave Bolland is asking for something very similar in his free agent pursuits. The FA market is fraught with overpayment and bad decisions, and the Kings just sidestepped that landmine. There is no doubt in my mind that Gaborik would have cleaned up on the open market if he had opted to go there. The 32-year old is still a capable 30-40 goal scorer, and it won't be surprising if he comes close to touching that next year if he remains healthy.
Health is, of course, always a factor with Gaborik. When you lock a guy up for that long of a term who has had a history of injuries then it automatically gets lodged in the back of your mind somewhere, "Well, I hope he stays healthy." Gaborik has had a very good stretch in his career here where he played nearly full two seasons at full health before a broken collarbone occurred earlier in the 2013-14 season. As he ages it may become more of a concern, but for now this deal looks like a monumental steal on the part of the Kings.
Here's a great quote from Gaborik who spoke with LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen about the deal.
“I won a Cup, and being with this group and this organization made me really feel like at home. Just the winning tradition that really made a difference,…
Another player who has similarly dealt with injuries is Matt Greene. However, the Kings also felt good enough about their alternate captain to lock him up for a decently long extension.
Per Kings, the official release goes out about Matt Greene and his four-year contract. Average of $ 2.5 mil per
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— lisa dillman (@reallisa) June 25, 2014Learn to love Matt Greene for the next four years folks!
Yes, four years is a long time for a player who has seemingly lost a step and has had injuries, but and $2.5AAV you can't complain all that much.
Greene has been a heart and soul player for the Kings, a leader, and a pretty decent defenseman all things considered. Is 2.5 a lot to pay for a potential 7th defenseman? Yes, but it isn't the worst thing in the world. Greene has meant a lot both on and off the ice for the LA Kings and this is a justifiable reward and renewal for the 31-year old Greene.
Two days ago, when the talk was swirling that the deal would be done, I posted this in regards to the RH/LH situation with the Kings. Also there was a great article by Sheng Peng in there about Matt Greene and his play. Worth checking out if you didn't see it before.
These two deals are great deals. The fact that Dean Lombardi was able to get these two players, in this day and age of hockey especially, to take discounts is phenomenal. They are low cap hits, relatively low risk, and were given to two players who have proven themselves time and time again. Yes there is some risk involved when it comes to age and term, but overall you can't help but be satisfied with the deals. The Kings now have $5.78MM in cap space left and only Willie Mitchell (UFA) and Dwight King (RFA) waiting to be inked to deals if they so desire.
Where it gets interesting is in next offseason when Williams, Stoll, Martinez and Regehr come up as UFA's, and Muzzin, Pearson, Toffoli, Clifford, Jones, and Nolan come up as RFA. Then we are really going to have to see some cap magic and some smart contracts from Dean Lombardi. There is the distinct possibility that, perhaps, we see a retirement or two...which would free up more money. Who knows.
Until then, I'd say it's a good day to be a Kings fan.
How do you feel about the Kings latest moves?
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