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In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on the eight-year, $64 million ($8M per) contract extension Ryan Johansen signed with the Nashville Predators.
Todd Cordell
Johansen has averaged 64 points per 82 games over the last four seasons, is in his prime, and plays a premium position, so it's no surprise he landed a huge contract.
I think $8 million may be a little high -- I'd be more comfortable with him making $6.5-7M per -- but I am fine with this deal. Quite frankly, Nashville could afford to overpay a bit for Johansen considering they have the majority of their core signed long-term to cap friendly contracts (see Viktor Arvidsson, Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, etc.).
James Tanner
This is way too much money for Johansen. Think about this - Nazem Kadri, a better player in virtually every way, is making about half his salary. Insane.
Hard to believe that Nashville did this a week or so after signing Arvidsson to such a good deal. Johansen is their best centre, and this reminds me of when Dion Phaneuf was the Leafs best defenseman so they gave him a ridiculous seven million.
Salaries seem to be jumping for star players, and I guess this might not look so bad a couple years from now, and I don't think there is any no-trade clause, so that makes it fractionally better, but contracts like this start chain reactions that break up teams.
Still, the Predators are in good shape for at least the next year and they figure to be a leading Cup Contender, so maybe this was the cost to keep the window wide open. If they win, who cares if they have to revamp everything afterwards?
From a risk/reward standpoint, and a competitive standpoint, I understand signing Johansen, but the cap hit is brutal for a guy who is, in the second or third class of star NHL #1 centres.
John Jaeckel
Johansen looked every bit an $8 million a year player in the playoffs this past Spring. And clearly, no one knows him and his potential better likely than the management of his current team.
If Johansen continues at his current level, or even improves, this is a nice deal that should not be a cap crippler—as some might argue $10.5 million per is for Jonathan Toews in Chicago.
All that said, even by today's NHL standards—and in a cap climate with no guarantees of inflation—$8 million per is a lot of money for just about any player, including one who was deemed at least "somewhat expendable" by his previous team 18 months ago. And 8 years is a lot of term.
Point being, as I said, ultimately I'll go with the Preds' judgement that Johansen is their guy long term. But still, it's hard to say today this is a slam dunk great deal either.
As with many long term deals, time will be the best judge.
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