Title Edit: Ovechkin signs 13 year $124 mil extension with

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Alexander Ovechkin is going to be sticking around Washington for the long haul as he has signed the biggest contract in the history of the NHL Thursday by agreeing to a 13 year extension with the Capitals worth a whopping $124 million.

Sources tell TSN it is believed the structure of the contract will pay Ovechkin 9 million per year for the first six years of the term and 10 million for the remaining seven years

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=226952&hubname=nhl

[heatley015 0]

yes i do believe it does

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

yes i do believe it does

Thats a bit much.I know he is the sole marketing tool for the caps, and I'm a caps fan, but I was expecting him to get more than heatley, less than crosby (as much as it pains me to say it!!!)

From a very reliable source here in the DC area

http://www.onfrozenblog.com/

A Star Is Signed: 6 Years, $54 Million for Alexander Ovechkin

By The OFB Team

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Earlier today, Alexander Ovechkin, accompanied by family and an attorney, walked into the Washington Capitals’ team offices in Arlington, Va., reviewed with counsel terms for a new contract with the club, and agreed to a six-year pact that will pay him $54 million.

Tomorrow, this very report will run in one Moscow newspaper, SovetskySport.

Well into next decade, Washington will be Alexander Ovechkin’s hockey home.

We’ll have more information from SovetskySport on Ovechkin’s signing later this evening

[kosydar 0]

So will he be a UFA once his contract is up?

[supahdon 0]

So will he be a UFA once his contract is up?

Yes. He gives up two UFA years in this contract as is. Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin-Alzner-Green should be pretty tasty in a couple years.

[acollette49 0]

i think thats a bit much. not that ovechkin isnt deserving, but its going to be that much harder to keep your team together. if it were me, id take kovalchuk money (5mil) and ask for a better supporting cast.

[Chadd 916]

I might as well be "that guy" again. Crosby obviously cares about his teammates and their chances of success much more than Ovechkin as he is "only" going to make a paltry $8.7M

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I was going to say it, but didn't want to threadjack as everyone knows I'm a Pens fan.

But since you said it..

Crosby might have only taken a 'small' paycut, as when his topic came out about his extension some were jumping on him because he didnt take 4 or 5 mil if he wanted to give the Pens organization a 'break' but, he did much more than Ovy did in terms of giving the team a chance to build around him. Ryan Whitney did it too, he'll be worth way more than what he is signed at in a few years.

The other thing is, Crosby makes those around him exponentially better when they play with him, Ovy pretty much does it all on his own. Maybe his game will evolve in a few years, but right now the Caps are basically paying him his salary to score on his own, not to set up and help the team win as a team and spread the scoring threats around.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I was going to say it, but didn't want to threadjack as everyone knows I'm a Pens fan.

But since you said it..

Crosby might have only taken a 'small' paycut, as when his topic came out about his extension some were jumping on him because he didnt take 4 or 5 mil if he wanted to give the Pens organization a 'break' but, he did much more than Ovy did in terms of giving the team a chance to build around him. Ryan Whitney did it too, he'll be worth way more than what he is signed at in a few years.

I don't follow you?

The difference in his contract and oveys is less than one minimum wage player per year ($450,000 is current min wage, $300,000 is difference in salary)

To counter argue you, I might say, ovey is doing more, by giving up more of his UFA time, 2 years as opposed to Crosby's 1.

However, I don't think he should be making more than crosby. That being said, Crosby could have got more, he was going for the symbolic 87 crap again

The other thing is, Crosby makes those around him exponentially better when they play with him, Ovy pretty much does it all on his own. Maybe his game will evolve in a few years, but right now the Caps are basically paying him his salary to score on his own, not to set up and help the team win as a team and spread the scoring threats around.

Danius Zubrus parlayed being on ovechkins line into a 6 year deal with the devils. How many points is he putting up now.

Chris Clark went from being a 10 goal scorer in Calgary to a 30 goal getter in washington.

Jeff halpern had a career high 33 assists when he played with ovechkin and got a 4 year $8 mil deal from dallas for his troubles.

Ovechkin makes people better, he also just happens to score a bucket more goals himself in the process.

Anyway, lets not turn this into a who's better thread, pens fans say crosby, caps fans say ovey, and people who like one over the other say their favorite.

I'm just happy he ain't going anywhere for another 6 years

[Fire0nIce228 1]

2-3-4 years down the road that couple million saved could be used to bring in a veteran or a rent a player to fill a hole or make a deep playoff push.

Also, if the other Pens follow Sids lead and sign for even slightly less than what they could get elsewhere, you can see that those hundred thousands would quickly add up and could be put to good use. Whereas, Ovys teammates might see that he took the best he could get and decide to do the same, screw the team or building a foundation.

As Malkin and Ovy had the exact same inital contract, it will be interesting to see how much less Malkin signs for.

The UFA thing to me is kinda.., neither of these teams is going to let either of their superstar, cashcow players walk for free. They'll trade before it gets to that point.

[SR27 0]

Looks like you got to edit your title again.

[mrusse01 0]

i think thats a bit much. not that ovechkin isnt deserving, but its going to be that much harder to keep your team together. if it were me, id take kovalchuk money (5mil) and ask for a better supporting cast.

He has a 6.5 million cap hit. Had to double-check that, but I knew there is no way he only makes 5 mil.

Good for the Caps fans, it would have really sucked I think if they lost Ovy to another team.

[SR27 0]

Whereas, Ovys teammates might see that he took the best he could get and decide to do the same, screw the team or building a foundation.

He could just wait for the offer sheets in the off-season if he was looking to make max money

[acollette49 0]

He has a 6.5 million cap hit. Had to double-check that, but I knew there is no way he only makes 5 mil.

Good for the Caps fans, it would have really sucked I think if they lost Ovy to another team.

forgot about the bonus counting against the cap. i think his actual salary is 5.5 mil...

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

As Malkin and Ovy had the exact same inital contract, it will be interesting to see how much less Malkin signs for.

Completely different. They both got the rookie max.

Ovechkin scored 106 points and 96 in his first 2 years. 52 and 46 goals

Malkin score 87 points and is on pace for about 92 this year.

Ovechkin is a better player (at their respective stages in their careers).

Ovey is also on pace for about 60 goals this season, malkin about 38.

Big difference in the players, despite initial contracts.

[mrusse01 0]

He has a 6.5 million cap hit. Had to double-check that, but I knew there is no way he only makes 5 mil.

Good for the Caps fans, it would have really sucked I think if they lost Ovy to another team.

forgot about the bonus counting against the cap. i think his actual salary is 5.5 mil...

5.5 this year, goes up to 7.5 for the next two. Good deal at any rate.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Of course. Never said they were close. It was no secret even on draft day that Ovy is in another league from Malkin, but they both have superstar potential.

[gxc999 7]

I think Alex took the money and figured "If they can't improve the team, I'll pitch a fit til they trade me". I really think it would've been better for him to make $5 mill a year and save that $$ for better teammates, but it's hard to turn down that much money...

[pwrfwd26 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3190712

$$ 124 million for 13 is this report?

[Krev 86]

Good god. Does he need $124 million? Doubtful. He better start a charity.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Good god. Does he need $124 million? Doubtful. He better start a charity.

Aren't the tax break why most rich people start charities?

[kosydar 0]

I don't think its a bad contract at all for either side, except I'm curious as to why its not front-loaded.

[sweetblazer 0]

Yup thats the official word. Should change the title. Holy christ thats a lot of money.

[mik3 1]

Rick Nash, get your money son! One-dimensional players cashin' in!

[RadioGaGa 162]

Rick Nash, get your money son! One-dimensional players cashin' in!

I wouldn't rush to give Ovy a Selke right away...but he's worked hard at becoming a better two-way player. And, how many guys who are known for their offensive prowess (to borrow a phrase from Pierre McGuire) throw as many hits as AO?