BruNews: Savvy close to 7-year contract extension

Multiple outlets have reported that the Bruins and Savard are close to agreeing on a seven-year contract extension. (boston.com)

It has been reported by multiple sources that Marc Savard and the Boston Bruins are close to agreeing on a seven year deal.  There has been some inconsistencies with the amount of the contract, NESN and RDS had it at $39 million ($5.5 million per year), while The Globe has it closer to $32 million ($4.7 million per year).  Many similar contracts, like Chris Pronger’s for example, see the player receiving much of the money in the first few years while their cap hit decreasing over time.  Also, many contracts have a retirement clause that doesn’t go against the team’s salary cap should he retire.

Marc Savard hasn’t played since since October 17th, and since then the Bruins have gone just 5-4-4 in 13 games.  It is no secret that Savard puts the offense, and power-play in motion as evidenced by his statistics since and before arriving in Boston.  It’s no surprise that the Bruins would want to resign such a rare talent.  That being said, seven years is a long time.

There is a trend going around much of the NHL lately where teams are signing stars to long-term and sometimes lifetime contracts.  These contracts are controversial, and in some cases, being investigated.

Scott Burnside of ESPN gives the example of Marian Hossa’s contract:

Hossa signed a 12-year deal with the Blackhawks that begins with payments of $7.9 million for the first seven years and finishes with four years at $1 million annually. The overall cap hit for the Blackhawks is a completely manageable $5.275 million a year.

A lot of the controversy comes in when considering retirement of these players.  It is speculated that the team and the players talk about a timetable for retirement which raises some eyebrows among the NHL brass.

KPD writes on the Bruins Blog that Savard’s new contract could break down something like this:

A typical payout for this kind of deal, made popular by the Red Wings and Flyers, would see Savard pull in, say, all but $3-4 million over the first five years.

Entering year No. 6 of the deal, Savard would be 38 years old. If his skills were diminished by then, the Bruins coud buy out the final two years of the deal at one-third discount, with the total amount due paid over four years.

The contract, as speculated, looks good to me.  Set-up men like Savard are not easy to get, except for that one guy we used to have.  What was his name? Joe something? I also don’t think Savard will decline rapidly like some other past Bruins players because he has the advantage of good hands.  Usually a players legs go first.  If a player is a speed guy and loses his ability to out-skate the opponents, he’s in big trouble.

Savvy isn’t one of those guys, he’s a decent skater but is clearly the quarterback out there.  Speaking of quarterbacks, Tom Brady isn’t fast by any means but he’s the best at his position.  Savard’s keen eye and passing ability will not slip up until his late 30’s injuries permitting.  Hockey is a contrast to baseball in terms of contract length.  Baseball players are so overpaid that if you give a player even five years he is likely to be a salary dump by the end.  A guy of Savard’s caliber does not lose his ability rapidly, as is the case in other sports.

Before the season started a lot of people in the media were saying how Savard would become expendable upon David Krejci’s new contract.   It only took 13 games this season to completely change these perspectives.  With the Bruins struggling to keep afloat Savard’s importance to the team became more evident than ever.