On Wednesday afternoon, Bryan Murray and the Ottawa Senators took the proactive approach, signing forward Kyle Turris to a five year extension worth $17.5 million.
While Turris still has another year remaining on his contract, the Sens liked what they saw in his half season audition with the club and were confident that he fit into the organization's long term plans.
I've heard some questioning the idea of giving a still relatively unproven commodity such long term security but from the Senators perspective, it's a gamble worth taking.
Turris has shown a commitment to getting stronger this off season (apparently pushing 200 lbs) and should only improve on the 29 points in 55 games he put up last season. The Sens see Turris as a second line centre on their depth chart, slotting nicely behind Jason Spezza. $3.5 mil for a second line centre? Seems like a steal.
From a management perspective, it's a balanced deal- not front loaded like so many of the contracts we've seen lately. Turris will earn $1.4 million next season as he plays out the final year of his existing contract. He'll then earn $2.5, $3.5, $3.5, $4.0 and $4.0 over the next five.
From Turris's perspective, he can finally settle into a new home after a tumultuous beginning to his career in the desert. Turris has said all the right things since arriving here in Ottawa and really seems like he wants to make it work here in the Nation's Capital.
For the most part, fans were a little uneasy when Murray dealt top prospect David Rundblad and a 2nd round pick to acquire Turris from the Coyotes. Since then, Turris has become a favourite with fans in Ottawa and really won people over with his overtime winner in Game 4 against the New York Rangers.
Fans hope to see more of that from Turris in the years to come and at $3.5 mil over five seasons, It's a deal that should work out nicely for both sides.
- After taking a day off in the negotiations, the NHL and NHLPA will reconvene today in New York. The NHLPA is expected to counter the latest proposal put forward by the NHL earlier this week. If you're looking for positives in these negotiations, then you have to like the fact that the two sides continue to talk. Hopefully more progress can be made today.
- I'll be away from the computer this afternoon as I take to The Marshes Golf Course to play a round of golf with our winner from the Predict the Contract contest from earlier this off season. Thanks again to those of you that entered and be sure to keep an eye out for more contests in the near future.
