Whether or not the old guard likes it, the NHL is definitely a younger man’s game now — on the ice and on the payroll.
The average NHL player today is 27.7 years old, down from 28.7 two seasons ago. Teams expect that age to drop further in the near future as several of the league’s oldest stars (Chris Chelios, Mike Modano, perhaps Joe Sakic) hang up their skates. In addition, NHL teams face an expected drop in the salary cap, which would put a premium on signing younger, cheaper players.
For a young, talented player in the NHL now, however, life couldn’t be better. With the age for unrestricted free agency having dropped from 32 to 27 in the last six years, young stars continue to sign long, lucrative contracts with teams afraid of losing them for nothing. Just this season, Los Angeles gave Anze Kopitar a seven-year, $47.6 million extension, and Colorado gave Paul Stastny a five-year, $33 million extension.
That has caused some grumbling from older players who say such players haven’t accomplished enough to merit such huge paydays. But to NHL general managers such as Pittsburgh’s Ray Shero, there is little choice but to show the kids the money.
“That’s the system now. You’re paying almost on potential with some of these long contracts,” Shero said. “But with the (unrestricted free agent) age being 27 now, you’ve got to lock them up a lot earlier. That’s good, it seems like, on the front end. But you don’t always know on the back end.”
Shero knows better than perhaps any other GM the dynamics of navigating the current NHL financial landscape. Sidney Crosby is 21 and Evgeni Malkin 22, and both Penguins are guaranteed $9 million each of the next three seasons. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is only 23 but will make $5.25 million in each of the next four seasons.
Last week, Shero gave center Jordan Staal, 20, a four-year, $16 million extension. He had 12 goals and 28 points in 82 games last season and is averaging a little more than one point every two games this season.
But Staal is young and has potential, so he cashed in. Before the most recent NHL collective bargaining agreement, good young players typically had many more years of “dues paying” before they hit the jackpot.
“Obviously, I had some good timing and was fortunate with my situation,” said Avs defenseman John-Michael Liles, who received a four-year, $16 million deal last summer, at age 27, right before he could have hit the open market. “It wouldn’t have been possible without a lot of guys before me. I appreciate it.”
Chicago GM Dale Tallon knows the day is coming soon when the Blackhawks will have to open the vaults to keep their young stars around for the long term. Young forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are signed through next season at $875,000 and $850,000, respectively. After next season, they can become restricted free agents, where teams have shown less hesitation at throwing huge offers at such players than in the past.
But it’s risky handing out huge deals to young players with promise. They don’t always deliver.
Through 41 games, Kopitar had 11 goals and 32 points — down from the 32-goal, 77-point output in 82 games a season ago.
“We know the situation, and we’ll address it,” Tallon said. “Yeah, it’s a lot of money to be giving players at such a young age. But it’s the way it is now, and we’re all in the same boat.”
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
Colorado at Columbus
5 p.m. tonight, ALT2, KCKK 1510 AM/KRCN 1060 AM
Spotlight on Nikita Filatov: The 18-year- old Columbus left winger had a hat trick against Minnesota on Saturday. Filatov was recalled last week from Syracuse, where he had played 23 games, for his second stint with the Jackets this season. In six games, he has four goals.
Avalanche: Andrew Raycroft will get his fourth consecutive start in goal for Colorado. He is 9-1-0 this season. . . . Adam Foote (triceps) and Ian Laperriere (back) did not make the trip to Columbus. It is uncertain how close either is to returning.
Blue Jackets: Winger Rick Nash, out with a sore knee, won’t play tonight and was placed on the injured list retroactive to last Tuesday to clear a roster spot. He could play as soon as Friday against New Jersey. . . . The Jackets filled his spot by recalling center Derek MacKenzie from Syracuse. . . . Columbus won both games in Denver, including a 6-1 rout Jan. 2. . . . The Blue Jackets are coming off wins over Washington and Minnesota. . . . Rookie phenom Steve Mason is expected to get his 11th straight start in goal.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
