Gonchar Contract In Negotiation
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jan 14, 10:00 AM | Hype this story!
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero has re-opened contract negotiations with Sergei Gonchar’s agent J.P. Barry.
According to TSN, the primary discussion at this point has revolved around term, but the focus undoubtedly with shift to money before long.
The 35-year-old defenseman is in the last of a five-year contract with the Penguins. During this time, he has been the Penguins’ top defenseman and, at times, was considered among the best overall defenders in the league, despite a reputation as a purely offensive player.
As an “over-35’er,” Gonchar’s contract will be guaranteed to stay on the books regardless of the situation, unless he is traded. In other words, we won’t see an extended contract with “bonus years” tacked on at the end so as to circumvent the cap as the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks have done with notable players (all under the age of 35).
For that reason, Shero must be careful to avoid giving Gonchar too long of a contract, as the veteran’s play surely will decline as he approaches 40.
Voice your opinion!
Comments
Matt Bodenschatz
Jan 14, 11:05 AM
After the discussion picks up, I’ll voice my opinion of the contract I would like to see Gonchar signed to.
Casey
Jan 14, 11:50 AM
I voted 2 years at 3.5 mil/year. Seems like a good contract for someone of his age and talent. Also, injuries that past two seasons might lower his worth.
Natty Lite
Jan 14, 12:07 PM
I was willing to go 3yrs./4 mil. per. I think he still has that many more years in him, he doesn’t play the body much and doesn’t abuse himself on the ice. At four million it would still give RS some wiggle room to get LeGame signed, hopefully at 3.5-4 mil. per for 4-5 years.
Pens1967
Jan 14, 12:19 PM
I voted for 2 yrs/3.75M also. I think that fits both parties well. Sarge doesn’t have to uproot his family, gets to stay on the east coast, where he’s spent his entire career and perhaps win another Cup. After 2 years, if he wants to, he can return to Russia and play in the KHL for big bucks.
Chris A
Jan 14, 12:23 PM
Three years – $6M, $4M and $2M for a $4M cap hit.
Couple that with offering Letang the same as Gogo got, 3 years $5.5M I believe.
This way Gonchar gets another year of big money, a year of good money and one year of low money.
After 3 years the Pens can decide (again) if Letang is ready to take over for Gonch. And hopefully Depres is ready for the NHL by then too.
DaBich
Jan 14, 12:48 PM
I voted 2 years, 4 million per. He’s excellent…hands down.
bag o' pucks
Jan 14, 01:30 PM
I voted 3 years, $3.5M. Perhaps a $4M-4M-2.5M type of deal. He’d remain the highest paid d-man for the next two years, then give way to the youngsters in the third year.
Barry has a bit of leverage with the win/loss record with and without Noodles (Sarge’s awesome new nickname, courtesy of Billy G). If the record was close it probably wouldn’t be a factor, but Gonchar’s absence over the last couple years has proven more detrimental to the team then even Crosby’s or Fleury’s. Again, from a pure W/L standpoint and, really, that’s all that matters.
However, Shero can point to the injuries that are becoming more frequent with Gonchar, he’s missing more and more time as his body ages and resiliency declines.
DaBich
Jan 14, 01:49 PM
Noodles??? Do tell, I missed that one!
Chris A
Jan 14, 02:35 PM
I would be concerned about anything over 3 years.
Yes, Gonchar is still a key for the Pens at this point in time but I’m concerned about the Schneider effect.
Remember that the first year he played in Anaheim (at 38 years old) he was still highly effective but his play has dropped off very quickly since then. His game and goal/point totals from the last few years:
2005/06 72 games – 21/59 at 36 years old
2006/07 68 games – 11/52 at 37
2007/08 65 games – 12/39 at 38
2008/09 67 games – 9/32 at 39
2009/10 17 games – 2/5 at 40
Granted, I do understand that just because this happened to Schneider doesn’t mean it will happen to Gonchar but Gonch will be turning 36 this April so it has to be a concern with any long-term deal for him.
I think a 3-yr deal is a reasonable length at which point it can be re-evaluated.
Shlim
Jan 14, 03:10 PM
3 years avg hit of 4-5 mil is worth it.
Hopefully he plays 75+ games each season, too… cuz man he’s good at slowing the game down when we’re acting crazy. And excellent point shot!
Ben Schmidt
Jan 14, 03:46 PM
Since the poll asked “ideal” I went with 2 years, $4M cap hit.
If I were to vote based on a bit more realism, however, I’d say I’d be willing to take a chance, and go 3 more years with a $5M cap hit. This is a significant risk, certainly, but at the same time, the difference Gonchar makes on the team is tremendous.
If he were under 35, he’d be commanding a $7M or greater per year cap hit on the open market, easily. Even on a 1-2 year contract, he’d probably be able to command that much on the open market. Getting him at “only” $5M would, therefore, be a discount, but its likely that the only way to get that discount would be to give him a bit more job security by taking on some risk on an additional year.
In the end, though, as valuable as Gonchar is to the team, it’s simply too risky to go more than 3 more years.
Pens1967
Jan 14, 03:54 PM
The fact that JP Barry represents both Malkin and Gonchar could work in the Pens’ favor. Malkin instructed Barry to get a deal done with Pgh last year and Gonchar might just like to finish his career playing with his countryman.
bag o' pucks
Jan 14, 06:19 PM
@Dabich, during an intermission interview with Potash last night, Guerin referred to Sarge as “Ol’ Noodles Gonchar back there” on the point during the power play. I lol’d at that one. Noodles… Awesome.
DaBich
Jan 15, 08:02 AM
Leave it to the “old man” to start another moniker. LOL!
Albert
Jan 16, 01:41 PM
I agree w/ the gist of this thread: 2-3 year term, w/ more money on the front end if the term is longer. The risk that “old” Noodles’s body gives out and leaves the Pens w/ a large, DEAD salary is too great to go any more than 3 years.
If the Penguins intend to challenge for a Cup over each of the next several years—and they DO—there is no way they can have, say, $3M+ in “dead money” in any given year or yearS. That would severely hamstring the entire organization.
If I’m Ray Shero, I offer 2 years/$7M.
If Barry wants a longer term then the risk needs to be spread and the average salary has to come down.
In that case, 3 years/$9M, with risk spread by salaries of $4M – $3M – $2M, would seem reasonable.
P.S.
Barry should be careful not to tout the “With + Without Gonchar” #s too much as they demonstrate that he’s missed a LOT of time.
Gonchar is still playing at a level, and I hope he gets re-signed, but NOT at the risk of hamstringing the entire organization.
Natty Lite
Jan 16, 02:32 PM
I think Albert summed it up nicely.
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