And 'IT' is to sign "unproven" players to very long contracts. crazy!Rick DiPietro re-signed with the New York Islanders today, agreeing to a record 15-year deal that will pay the No. 1 goalie US$67.5 million. The deal is the longest in NHL history, topping the 10-year, $87.5 million contract the Islanders gave centre Alexei Yashin in 2001.
DiPietro's deal is believed to be second only in length in North American sports to the 25-year pact Magic Johnson signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1981. Wayne Gretzky signed a 21-year deal with former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington in 1979 but that was a personal services contract not an official NHL contract.
The contract is guaranteed and DiPietro will be paid in full should he retire because of injury. If he ends his career otherwise before the deal expires, he would forfeit the remaining dollars. DiPietro was a restricted free agent this summer and couldn't be unrestricted for another two years. The deal will pay him $4.5 million per season, placing him eighth among goalies.
I'm thinking you could put this one under the 'come back to bite me in the ass' column. Time will tell.
2 comments:
If the Isles decide to go with another goalie within the next 15 years, Dipietro will never play for another team.
Who would be stupid enough to take on that contract?
Oh... Yeah...
OK besides Bob Clarke.
I don't even think Bobby would do that.
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