Will Jets spend $152 million to keep Byfuglien, Ladd, Trouba?
The fact that Dustin Byfuglien is due a new contract from the Winnipeg Jets is rather well-known, given that it’s been the catalyst for the season-long trade conjecture that’s surrounded him.
But GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has other significant players due for new deals after the season as well: Andrew Ladd, the 30-year-old captain, who makes $4.4 million against the cap this season and goes unrestricted; Jacob Trouba, the 21-year-old defenseman who is coming off his rookie deal and is restricted; and Mark Scheifele, the 22-year-old center, who is in the same boat at Trouba.
According to Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press, three of those players have significant starting points in negotiations:
League and player sources have confirmed that Jets captain Andrew Ladd has asked for a six-year deal worth at least $41 million, that defenceman Dustin Byfuglien has requested $55 million over eight years and that defenceman Jacob Trouba wants more than $56 million over the maximum eight years allowed in the league’s CBA with its players.
If the opening requests for the Ladd, Byfuglien and Trouba were the final numbers — and that seems unlikely — Ladd’s new cap-hit number would be at least $6.8 million, Byfuglien’s $6.875 million and Trouba’s at least $7 million.
The Jets have $12.4 million in cap space this season according to General Fanager; keep in mind the cap will rise next season as well. But that’s a lot of cheddar for three players, without addressing what Scheifele could be due.
(Would they buy out the last year of Ondrej Pavelec’s deal at $3.9 million against the cap, given that Connor Hellebuyck looks ready?)
There’s little chance Trouba gets $7 million against the cap unless it’s in matching an offer sheet, but he’s not going anywhere. Ladd and the Jets have such a mutual admiration society that one assumes they’ll get something done at a reasonable price (in exchange for term).
The Byfuglien one remains the mystery. Eight years? A 37-year-old Dustin Byfuglien with a $6.875 million cap hit and a full no-move? But in the short term, he brings so much to that lineup in terms of offensive and size. It's a tough one.
That’s why they pay Kevin Cheveldayoff the big buck to figure out who gets paid the big bucks.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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