Mailbag: How much will Bergeron, Chara cash in
In Bergeron’s case, I also think it’s important to get this extension done before the season or, at the latest, by the All-Star break. Boston has to know that Bergeron’s play is only going to raise his stock. Showing him they love him as much as he’s repeatedly said he loves Boston would be in the Bruins’ best interest. So ultimately, I think Bergeron gets around $5.5 million on a four- or five-year deal.
Of course, these ballpark estimates are done without looking at who else will be on the open market or how they would fit into Boston’s payroll/salary cap next season or beyond. There’s no doubt that even after general manager Peter Chiarelli makes the move he needs to make to clear cap space just for this season, if he completes extensions with Chara and Bergeron, he won’t be out of the woods as far as next season in terms of cap space, his logjam at center and other factors.
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Jimmy,
I have been playing with Chara’s numbers much like you have here. I too think they can lower Z’s cap hit by 1 to 1.5 mil a season…..at the very least 500k.
Of course this will only work if PC gives him a 6-8 yr deal. Im not sure if that will happen. At this point, it looks like big Z will be a very effective player to the age of 40. However, if he is not, a long deal like that will end up biting the organization in the arse.
This contract extention will be very important to the Bruins future, I am very curious to see how it plays out.
chara will be 34 at the end of his contract at the end of this year. his cap hit presently is around 7.5 like you have said. if the bruins sign him for 8 years where he makes 7.5 for the first 3 years at which point he will be 37 at that point i think it can be fait to say his age will start to catch up to him and the pay can start to come down so perhaps the 4th year he could go down to 6.5 then down to 5.5 at 39 down to 4.5 at 40 4.0 for the next 2 years then 3 mil a year for the final 2 years of his contract. a conract like this is front loaded , but should be approved by the nhl because it reflects his value the whole time and his agent has said chara expects to play into his 40s it also makes his cap hit 6.06 down which is down 1.44 million a year. which would allow the bruins the space they need to give bergy a cap hit that remains about the same at 4.5- 5 mil a year for 4-5 years. in doing that and losing sturm and ryder and having the influx of solid youth. also the serious future consideration of trading the cap friendly and uber talented savard next year should open up 12-14 million a season. this coupled with how the nhl cap seems to be increasing by 1-2 million a year should allow the bruins to field a exremly talented and youn team with the ability to keep all the youngster they choose to keep. keep in mind to bergeron is 25 and projects to get better. he is the 2nd best center on the team and needs to be kept. it is more important than keeping chara. considering the fact 2 defensemen of sidenbergs talent would more than make up for chara if you have a goalie of rasks skill if he keeps up his game.
Grant,
Your points are valid. My only comment would be…..While I really like Savy and hope he is here for a long time, if it comes down to a choice between Bergy and Savy at some point, I feel you have to give the nod to Bergy, simply because of age. Unless, of course he prices himself out of Boston. However, 5.5mil could be a reasonable number given his value on the open market.
Maybe PC will find a way to keep both, of course if he can sign Bergy for 3.5-4, I am all for it.
Chara was a July 1 signing and Bergeron signed in August.
Curious… Did Chara and Bergeron’s present deals get done prior to the cap? If that is the case – I think the player has to weigh that into their expectations.
I really value Bergeron… but do you sign Bergeron for 5.5 or keep Savard at 4?! (cap hits) I don’t think you can get around this. Seguin and Krecji are not going anywhere. Seguin ain’t playing wing for his career – so what gives? Not just Ryder comes off the books either. We could lose Wheeler, Sturm, Ryder and Recchi. That’s a lot of forward positions for only $10 or $11 mil – Some of those slots need to be goal scorers, and that skill will always cost you. If you give Bergeron another $1 plus per year.. you’re biting even further into that money for forwards, or you have to cut on D.
If we get Bergeron to sign for $3.5-$4 I think its a good bet… anything more makes think about leaning toward keeping Savy instead.
Bergeron has had a couple of very serious concussions. His offensive numbers have also dipped. I think it is imperative at this juncture not to romanticize the worth of a player, even a guy like Bergeron who is loved by all (including me). Ryder was supposed to be the real deal too, and know he is the butt of everyone’s ill will. Look at Tim Thomas too…same deal. If we sign Bergeron to a long term deal to get a reasonable cap number, and he doesn’t perform above 50 points per year, and heaven forbid if he has another concussion, then you are stuck with another player eating up valuable cap space for an extended period of time. What’s wrong with a shorter term deal, say three years, based on his most recent numbers? Fair market value over the short term is fair to the player and the team. If he does go through the roof, then he gets paid a better contract at the end of the next one. Crystal ball gazing usually has a horrendous result.
Mat I think you assessed both players perfectly!!! And Keith you’re totally right too, they need to get these deals done now before they have their “contract year”! Which i anticpiate with such a strong looking team!!! Go B’s can’t wait!
There are worse things in the NHL than having 4 guys who can play center at a high level. I say Bergeron is a MUST sign. Chara too. You have to open the check book for these two. You get Ryder’s money off the books next year and hope to use that money for some of the young kids who will have another year of AHL experience (Colburn, Caron, etc) I would get these deals done now, in the slow period. They will not effect this years number one bit.