Two thoughts:

Wasn’t there a contract recently rejected because there was too much of a variance between the first and last year salaries? If memory serves me, for someone in Nashville? Does that not apply here due to the extreme length (11 years) of this deal, or am I just very confused?

Also, hasn’t this deal been in the works for a long time, long enough that the people praising Barrie and Koules should really be thanking Feaster, and just thankful that the new boys decided to see it through, unlike Boyle?

No word in the TSN story if Lecavalier and his agent were smart enough to get a no movement clause to protect him from being cast aside like yesterday’s news at Barrie and Koules’s whim.

Bob, the Lecavalier for Kelly Hrudey trade will be announced on monday

They made a mistake and only listed 10 years.  Seems like he gets paid $10m for seven seasons, not six.

I was wondering about that rule too, Senshobo, so I looked it up.  It works like: take the lower value of the first two years of the contract ($10m, in this case).  In any given year of the contract, the salary can’t increase by more than that amount or decrease by more than 50% of that amount.  This contract drops by $1.5m, $4.5m, $2.5m, and $0.5m, so it’s legit.

Interestingly, if cap accounting doesn’t change, this contract is essentially buyout-proof in the last few years.  If Lecavalier is bought out in the second last year, the cap hit for those two seasons will be over $6.6m and $7.1m.  But he could be a convenient way for a stingy team to reach the cap floor without having to spend much money.

the Lecavalier for Kelly Hrudey trade will be announced on monday

At which time they will also announce that they’re switching him from goaltender to winger.  Too bad Kelly didn’t play before 1979 or he’d be able to skate sans helmet.  It would be great to see that bandanna tail flapping in the breeze as he flies up the wing waiting to take the first outlet pass from his defense… err… I mean… from one of the other forwards who happens to be staying back.