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Ovechkin Deal Will Impact Bolts

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 14, 2008

TAMPA - What in the name of Alexei Yashin is going on with NHL contracts these days?

While many pundits scoffed at the 15-year deal G Rick DiPietro signed with the New York Islanders before last season, turns out he was a trendsetter. Already this season the league has seen a pair of 20-somethings sign mega-deals with their respective teams - Mike Richards a 12-year, $69 million extension with Philadelphia, and the latest being Alex Ovechkin's jaw-dropping 13-year, $124 million extension with Washington announced Thursday.

Following the offer sheets Edmonton sent to Buffalo's Tomas Vanek, a seven-year deal worth $50 million which the Sabres matched, and to Anaheim's Dustin Penner - who eventually signed with the Oilers for $21.25 million for five years - general managers were put on alert. And the aftershocks are just now beginning to shake the foundation of teams around the league.

The early trend certainly seems to favor players under the age of 25 who are set to come out of an entry-level deal, as in the case of Richards and Ovechkin. Sidney Crosby, who would have been a restricted free agent this summer, inked a five-year extension worth a measly $43.5 million before the season started.

Right about now one might wonder: Is there a point to all this? Of course there is.

As many know, Vinny Lecavalier is widely considered one of the top - if not the top - player in the game. And he's up for a new contract following the 2008-2009 season.

Don't think for a moment Ovechkin's deal won't have an impact when it comes time to try to negotiate a new deal with Lecavalier, who led the league with 52 goals last season and enters this week leading the way in scoring.

"One thing that we all know, and it's the nature of this business and it's reinforced by the fact that we have salary arbitration, but the one thing that everyone does is look at comparables," Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said. "And we can say that comparables are only in the arbitration context, and we know that's not true. Just as there are comparables on your own team. ... That comparison is a constant. So, depending upon the player and the situation, yeah, Ovechkin's deal could become a factor."

So how much does that mean Lecavalier is worth a season - $9 million, $10 million, or higher depending on where the salary cap stands in two years? No doubt Ovechkin's contract - and potentially others signed between now and when talks begin with the Lightning - will come up during discussions.

CRITICAL CONTRACT: Speaking of Ovechkin's deal, Feaster said this weekend the Capitals should not be criticized for the big contract the team signed their star player to, comparing it in some ways to the situation Tampa Bay faced with Brad Richards. Coming off a career-high 91 points following 2005-06, Richards was set to be a restricted free agent but was signed to a six-year contract worth $39 million.

"I was confident then and I'm still confident today that there would have been an offer sheet," Feaster said. "And then you're in the Anaheim situation last year or the Buffalo situation last year. And I don't doubt for a minute that that's what went into the thinking in this Ovechkin case.

"And at the same time, that's the player that they have marketed ... you don't want to lose that player that you've asked the fans to identify with and that you can win with. So, every one of us has to do what each of us has to do, and until you've walked a mile in that guy's shoes and understand all the pressures and situations that come to bear in his mind-set, I don't think it's fair to criticize it."

NUTS AND BOLTS: There has been no official update on the sale of the team, but word through the grapevine is that everything is progressing as planned. But we heard that many times during the first failed attempt, so until something official comes out there will be some level of skepticism. ... D Dan Boyle has been steadily increasing his workload and is now taking some light shots on goal. The team will not give a timetable on his return, but judging from the workload he is doing, it seems anytime between next week and the end of the month is a realistic time frame to see him back on the ice.

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