504Heater wrote:http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1556289,CST-SPT-hawknt03.article
Apparently both sides are circling an 8-10 year contract extension. No word on how much the contract would be per year, but it's rumoured to be in the 4-5 million dollar bracket.
While this would appear to be a great deal, the biggest question making the rounds would be...were does the money come from to re-sign Toews, Kane and most importantly Duncan Keith.
But...where there's a will there's a way.
We'll see what shakes out of this.
Heater, thanks for this.
This discussion has been going on for several months now.
From The Chicago Sun Times 'Blackhawks Notebook' May 3:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1556289,CST-SPT-hawknt03.articleDespite his injury-filled first two seasons with the Hawks, winger Martin Havlat may have considerably extended his stay after this solid season. The Hawks and Havlat's agent are negotiating an eight- to 10-year contract extension.Havlat and Tallon are reportedly looking for a mutually equitable arrangement as they have both publicly expressed their wish to have Martin continue in Chicago.
Given Scotty Bowman's presence in the Blackhawk brain trust, it's logical to suppose the Hawks are studying a contract model similar to the ones Ken Holland has been using to secure the services of Zetterberg and Franzen.
In principle, this would allow an agreement to be structured that would work within the salary cap parameters.
In terms of 'finding the money' for Toews, Kane and Keith, the first order of business in Chicago has been to build a 'Championship Culture' that makes being a Blackhawk something players want to be, and not just because they are paid to do so.
Rocky Wirtz and John McDonough have made this their priority, and bringing Scotty Bowman into the fold further reinforces that agenda.
As professionals, some players place pride in their team ahead of pure dollars and cents.
Those are the
only players you want on your team.
And as anyone who has watched the Blackhawks in the 2009 playoffs so far, this is a TEAM first and foremost.
For those counting BTW, 14 of the 20 skaters are Canadians. Four, in fact, from the Vancouver area.
Dale Tallon has achieved impressive results, especially given the mess he walked into. But there is, obviously, more work to be done.
BTW I know you're dreaming of Duncan Keith in Ottawa...might I suggest that you 'grow your own'?
Of course that would mean you have to be prepared to endure some unsuccessful seasons first...like Blackhawks supporters have.
No pain...no gain, eh.
As for Dash's quip about 'ugly deals'...they're only ugly when you're losing.