Plekanec Set to Discuss New Deal with Habs
Tomas Plekanec is off to a roaring start in Montreal and La Presse is reporting that Habs GM Bob Gainey may be set to start discussing a new contract. Plekanec becomes an unrestricted free agent in July and Gainey, who usually doesn’t talk contracts during the regular season, may be setting up to discuss a new deal with the player.
Plekanec is 27-years-old and the Canadiens seem to be looking at offering him a long-term contract. Montreal will not want to risk losing him over the summer to another club, so the deal could be loaded with cash and possibly incentives, too.
Montreal will not want to repeat last summer’s arrangement, as they went into the post-season with 10 unrestricted free agents. We all know how that worked out; none of those free agents returned to the club.
Gainey has already gone on record with Montreal’s media and has said that this year will be different. There are plans in place to lock up key players to the organization and that’s where the apparent upcoming negotiations with Plekanec hold special importance. It tells the player that he’s an asset to the team and that Gainey doesn’t want to risk losing him. That’s gotta be great for the old confidence.
Plekanec currently makes $2.75 million, but many are suggesting that he could see his salary jump to around $4 million a year if his playing level keeps up.
Posted by Jordan Richardson.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Incentives? Incentives can only be included in one-year contracts for players who are either (A) over 35 years old or (B) under 35 years old but have missed all or most of the previous year to injury. And then you obviously also have the standardized rookie contracts with incentives based on draft position.
All other contracts must be meat and potatoes, what you see is what you get.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Good eye, Dakka.