If I were a Superstar player

[RadioGaGa 162]

I will preface this by saying, this may be far too idealistic of me...but hear me out:

If I was in a situation similar to Steven Stamkos (which is easy to sat because I'm NOT) and I had someone willing to pay me $12 Million for 1 year. I'd do that in a heartbeat. Buy a house and a car, and make some smart investements. Don't be in any rush to sign on July 1. Let everyone else fight for the cash. Then, I'd just take a look each year at which team(s) have the best chance at winning the Cup. Go in, say early/mid Aug...pick the team that has put some good peices in place and sign for $1-2 Mil.

The only record I'd have my eyes set on is Henri Richard...11 STANLEY CUPS!

As I say...very idealistic. And, I'm sure I'm gonna catch hell for even posting this...but why the hell not!

[chippa13 1844]

Then you would be leaving an awful lot of money in someone else's pockets. If Stamkos were to play another 15 years then he'd be looking at between $26 and $40 million dollars. I figure that Stamkos should clear around $40 million for just the next 5 years of his career. Your idea would essentially have him playing for free for the last 10 years.

[interpathway 9]

LOL, this is assuming you make no human emotional connection with teammates, trainers, staff, etc. Or could just care less, but I can't imagine playing for a professional team for even one year and not making strong ties.

Hell, why not just sign with the Caps and win 11 of the next 12? S.O.S. (Stamkos Ovechkin Semin).

[chippa13 1844]

For what its worth, Kariya and Selanne tried this idea of peanuts for a Cup and it flopped in Colorado.

[ktang 34]

Hossa...

[RadioGaGa 162]

I guess the thought of it just comes from comparing what I make in my actual job...to the prospect of making $12 million to play a game. I coudl make that last a long time...Make the money up front, then basically go out and just try to win as many Cups as possible. Obviously, you wouldn't hit every year....but I figure over a 12-15 year career...you could probably get it right 8-10 times.

And interpathway, you make a good point about team mates and other relationships within the game. I guess I hadn't really considered that.

[DoublinUp 0]

aaahhh.... the lebron james theory....

[GoBucky 0]

Relocating every year makes it difficult to have any kind of friends and stability in your life away from hockey.

[chk hrd 164]

Relocating every year makes it difficult to have any kind of friends and stability in your life away from hockey.

no stability can make for alot of problems which can lead to bad hockey. In the big picture I think Stamkos is more marketable if he stays with one team instead of floating around. Look at Hossa, lots of talent but isn't marketed very well. If SS makes 7 mil. with the team he will still make alot more with outside deals plus will be alot more respected (my opinion) than alot of hired gun slingers. He should make more money then he can spend, if he takes care of business.

With a player like SS and a GM like Yzerman I think Tampa Bay will be in the running for alot of years. They will continue to build around him. Yzerman knows the bennefits of long term commitments to and from players. I think that is one of the things that made Detroit successful, alot of players were able to have a stable life for quite some time and could make a big commitment to the team.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I guess the theory does have flaws...I suppose my main point is...as a 21 year old who can make 10-20 million in the first 4-5 years of a career...I'd happily sign smaller contracts and go for Cups as a veteran player. Maybe the scenario of a new team every year is not quite right, but a 12 year deal worth $140 Mil will only end up limiting that team to add pieces down the road.

I'd want to be that piece that someone adds.

[chippa13 1844]

Not so sure there. I think I'd rather be part of that core that got the job done instead of being that last piece of the puzzle that is only renting.

[shotty 7]

i think a strategy like that would diminish any kind of respect from teammates, fans and management, ultimately effecting your performance and longevity in the league... richard, the man who's record you'd be chasing, won 8 cups in 18 seasons as a player. the final 3 came to him by way of a management position.

anyways, assuming the hypothetical superstar version of you stays in the league for 18+ years, you'd be hard pressed to sit down in august and pick the cup winning team enough times to even come close to his record.

from a team building perspective, i think there is a significant advantage to teams having their core group of players secured and building up AROUND them, as opposed to hoping they have a shot at landing you each august for a single season. it's usually these teams who have good runs deep into the playoffs, not those who pick up super stars in free agency a month before the season starts.

i do agree that these lengthy deals we see are hinderance if one's goal is to win as many cups as possible (the days of pro sports dynasties are all but gone), but on the other end, it gives these guys a chance to make a ton of cash without the sacrifices that are extremely common in pro sports, its just one less thing to worry about... plus while a long term deal can run both the player and the team into trouble down the road, it does allow the team to focus on other pieces; knowing that your super star is committed. do you think the penguins or the capitals regret signing crosby or ovechkin?

[flaming_june 2]

Another issue would be what happens after your hockey career? If you're used to the life and your hockey career only lasts 10-15 years, it's impossible to maintain after retirement. The only thing you can do is to live off your investments (unpredictable market) and then find another career in management, TV, or be a doctor. Edit, or be like Shaq and be a cop too.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

Plus, don't you think your ideology would change the second time you got offered $10 million dollars to play? I'd have a pretty tough time not saying "Oh, ya know what, next year I'll do the sign for $1 million idea. I'd like another Ferrari and another house in Hawaii."

[zachary 2]

I would take the "hometown" discount. Basically taking about 4mil and save some money to bring in key players. I know a lot of guys around the room would give a star player tons of respect for taking almost a 50% cut to benefit the team but taking 1 mil is just ridiculous.

[bar down 1]

he well stay in tampa cause he is on a good team and has a house and friends down there theres piont when ur rich when u say what does the extra million or two really do for me

[jds 20]

There is also the consideration of just how much money is enough? As much as I appreciate the skill and dedication of these guys, seeing someone paid $10million to play a game seems a bit odd if you really look at it. Supply and demand and all that economic "what the market will bear" stuff aside. Meanwhile, tickets for us regular folks who want to see a game (which is the point isn't it) go up and up and become harder to afford. I don't begrudge a Steven Stamkos taking $8 million if it is offered- I would. But doesn't it seem ridiculous that we think nothing of those amounts while there are lots of people who can't afford to live like human beings in North America and the rest of the world. Sorry for getting all morally upright on everyone but I still remember walking out of a Leafs game with thousands of people who had just dropped hundreds of dollars to watch a hockey game(my tickets were comped) and not one of those people stopped to give change to the ratty guy sitting on the street with a hat and a sign asking for help. Explaining to my son why no one stopped was tricky.

[Jason Harris 31]

A few considerations why the one big payday, followed by smaller paydays, might not be the best strategy -- at least not until your career is starting to wind down:

1) Let's say you're good enough to assess the league and predict the eventual champions a few times. How many times would you need to pick it correctly to make it worth giving up $40M to $60M, considering it's possible you could win it once or twice with the same team?

2) You become known league wide as a mercenary, which means you're likely to be run a few times by angry ex-teammates, while you're less likely to be protected by the enforcer of your current squad.

3) Injuries. Suffer a career threatening injury and the option of a longterm contract might never reappear.

4) Personal. When you're 21 it might not matter, but a 32-year-old might have met the woman he wants to start a family with; at that point, maybe he wants his children to be in the same town as him.

5) Winning it in a place that hadn't in years -- and where you've spent your career -- probably adds up to a higher high than winning it four times where you've moved place to place chasing it. Just look at the reaction in Boston towards the players, which I suspect was similar in Chicago last year. Those guys won't be buying too many more drinks in the future.

[Hradsky 1]

Guess Vokoun read this thread...

[silver571 2]

Now, at what point are you an all-star that wants to turn down, yes turn down, money to help the team afford pieces to the puzzle to help your team win a championship? I know that's a pretty hard thing to do with contracts and all, but say you're a household name for that areas team and you don't want to leave so you try and help build the team. Easy to say when a franchise isn't shoving millions into your pockets. Just a thought.

If I were making millions I'd be donating to charities and to local animal shelters.