Ryan Getzlaf won’t be hitting the free agent market after all.
The Anaheim Ducks locked up the Canadian forward to an eight-year, $66-million extension Friday.
While some could argue the team may have paid above Getzlaf’s market value, it was clear the Ducks did not want to risk losing their No. 1 centre.
Toronto Maple Leaf fans surely understand how hard it is to fill that position.
The 27-year-old will now have a salary cap hit of $8.25 million, making him the highest-paid player on the Ducks.
Here is the breakdown of Ryan Getzlaf’s extension: $6.5M next year then $8.75M, $9.25M, $9.25M, $9.025M, $8.95M, $8.275M and $6M.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 8, 2013
Below, we take a look at how Getzlaf’s new contract compares with similar deals around the NHL.
Note: All numbers are according to capgeek.com.
Rick Nash, New York Rangers (8 years, 62.4 million)
In comparison to Rick Nash’s contract, it’s hard to make the case that the Ducks overpaid for Getzlaf.
Like Getzlaf, Nash has an identical eight-year term as part of a contract extension he signed when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Getzlaf is one year younger than Nash.
Nash makes a little less money than Getzlaf will in his new contract but the two carry very similar salary cap hits. The Rangers sniper, who plays a less prominent position, currently has a cap hit of $7.8 million, slightly lower than the $8.25 million Getzlaf will account for over the eight-year deal that begins next season.
In terms of on-ice impact, Getzlaf is a much more complete three-zone player than the Rangers forward. Nash may be one of the league’s best pure scorers and durable players (75-plus games in each of the last full six seasons) but has not offered the same kind of defensive presence that Getzlaf has shown most of his career in Anaheim.
Both players were first-round picks and played on the gold-medal winning 2010 Canadian Olympic team.
Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes (7 years, $57.75 million)
If the Ducks were looking for a benchmark in the Getzlaf negotiations, they probably turned to the contract of the Carolina Hurricanes’ top centre.
Eric Staal and Getzlaf have had very similar careers thus far, as the two have both been reliable No. 1 centres for teams that have won the Stanley Cup.
Staal, who is a year older than Getzlaf, has an identical $8.25 million cap hit. The way Staal’s contract is structured, he earns a raise in salary every season and is making a total of $8.5 million in 2012-13. In comparison, Getzlaf will earn just $6.5 million in 2013-14.
In terms of production, the Hurricanes forward has been a much more dynamic scorer as Getzlaf has only scored 25-plus goals twice while Staal has scored 30-plus on five occasions.
Staal has played 80-plus games in six of the last seven seasons while Getzlaf has only been over 80 three times.
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins (5 years, 43.5 million)
While Getzlaf is just getting started on a new deal, Evgeni Malkin is nearing the end of his five-year deal that started in 2009-10.
The Pittsburgh Penguins centre currently has a cap hit of 8.7 million, just $500,000 more than what Getzlaf will account for in 2013-14.
While Getzlaf is one of the league’s most consistent centres, he isn’t quite in Malkin’s territory.
The Russian is a year younger than Getzlaf and is amongst the league’s top player. He has been a consistently dominant offensive player throughout his time in Pittsburgh.
Like Getzlaf, Malkin has won a Stanley Cup but has been a much more dynamic scorer than the Ducks forward. Malkin has three 100-point seasons while Getzlaf has a career-high of 91 and has not approached 100 points in any other season.
It will be tough for the Penguins to pay Malkin more than a cap hit of 8.7 million (what they are paying Sidney Crosby) when his deal expires after next season.
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (5 years, 37.5 million)
The Lightning locked up Steven Stamkos to a five-year extension that began last season.
At just 23 years old, Stamkos has been an elite scorer, potting 50-plus goals in two of the last three years. While Getzlaf has a bigger term (three more years than Stamkos), the Lightning are getting a better bargain in terms of salary cap hits.
Stamkos accounts for only $7.5 million on the cap while Getzlaf will cost the Ducks $700,000 more per season. It may be an issue of service time but in terms of talent and production, it is surprising that Getzlaf will earn more than Stamkos over the next few seasons.
Stamkos actually earns $8 million in every year of his five-year contract while Getzlaf’s contract is structured a bit differently where his salary fluctuates over the course of the eight years.
Like Malkin, Stamkos has been far superior on the ice to Getzlaf last few seasons. While both have been legitimate No. 1 centres for their teams, Stamkos is a much more electric player and a far greater scorer and skater. Both should be on Canada’s 2014 Olympic team.
