that is so retarted.  Why would they give him such a long deal.  Pronger will most likely be effective for a 2-3 years more at max.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 07/07/09 at 03:02 PM ET

He’s so dominant physically it’s hard to know how much longer he can continue to be that dominant. But 7 years for a guy that will be 35 by the time the new season starts is pretty ridiculous IMO

Posted by PuckCentral.net from NJ on 07/07/09 at 03:06 PM ET

“He’s so dominant physically it’s hard to know how much longer he can continue to be that dominant. But 7 years for a guy that will be 35 by the time the new season starts is pretty ridiculous IMO”

News flash: It’s a front loaded deal, so by the 4th or 5th year he will be bought out and the hit would be less. I’m just surprised that he’s only going to have a $5 million cap hit after this year. So, with $1.25 million of this year’s cap hit and Randy Jones’ $2.4 million cap hit off the books, we have enough to resign Coburn to a better deal (eat that Toronto).

Posted by Philip from Philadelphia on 07/07/09 at 03:21 PM ET

his cap hit will be 1.25 mil less next year. carle and jones are lock to be gone by trading deadline.

Posted by FlyersFan on 07/07/09 at 03:24 PM ET

how do u figure his cap hit will be less?  The cap hit is the same throughout the 7 years.  Just cause he gets paid more one year then the next, doesnt mean the cap hit changes, since it is an average.

Considering he is not 35 yet, I thought he was 36 earlier, but a poster above said he is turning 35, this is not so bad for the flyers as I earlier thought.  IF pronger decides to retire at 38 or so, (since it is front loaded and most of the money will be in the first few years) his cap hit will be removed and the flyers will not be on the hook for it.  HOWEVER, if he decides to stay for the length of the contract, they are screwed.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 07/07/09 at 03:48 PM ET

“how do u figure his cap hit will be less?  The cap hit is the same throughout the 7 years.  Just cause he gets paid more one year then the next, doesnt mean the cap hit changes, since it is an average.”

The extension doesn’t kick in until next season, so he’s still playing under the contract he signed in Edmonton in 05 (5 years, $31.25 million). So basically, he’s signing an 8 year contract with the next 7 years only resulting in a $5 million cap hit rather than a $6.25 million cap hit.

Posted by Philip from Philadelphia on 07/07/09 at 04:19 PM ET

His cap hit will be less because his new contract doesn’t start until next year.  This year he will still be on his current contract that has a cap hit of $6.25 million.

Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 07/07/09 at 04:23 PM ET

lol, ok i messed up. sorry haha.
but this makes it even worse kinda.  He will just be that much older when his contract is finally up.  Unless he retires early.  wow having chris pronger at 43 with a 5 million cap hit.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 07/07/09 at 04:27 PM ET

lol, ok i messed up. sorry haha.
but this makes it even worse kinda.  He will just be that much older when his contract is finally up.  Unless he retires early.  wow having chris pronger at 43 with a 5 million cap hit.

Something else you messed up on: the deal is frontloaded, so they can buy him out in about 4-5 years and the hit would be less than the $5 million dollar cap hit. Homer learned something from Ken Holland about how to deal with contracts.

Posted by Philip from Philadelphia on 07/07/09 at 04:30 PM ET

so philly has 12 guys signed next year at a cap hit of almost 45 mil?  and the cap may go down drastically.  and the only goalie they will have is boucher?  what a joke hahaha.  can’t wait to watch them fall with their shoddy goaltending this year

Posted by lol on 07/07/09 at 05:21 PM ET

Assuming Pronger can play at his present level for 3-4 years, it’s a bargain. Think about it—his cap hit goes DOWN by over $1.25 mil next year, and with the deal being front-loaded, it may only cost $1 or $2 mil a season to buy him out after 4 years. He played all 82 games last season. And he wants to win a cup in Philly. Pronger’s one of the few “game-changers” in hockey and I’d rather have him at $5 mil a season than Hossa at $6+ mil or Gaborik at $7+ mil.

Posted by Brando from Memphis on 07/07/09 at 05:58 PM ET

you guys have him for 8 years.  1 year at 6.whatever and then 7 years at 5 million so assuming u buy him out, it after 4 years, you will have that cap hit for 8 years.  not too appetizing now isnt it

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 07/07/09 at 07:06 PM ET

Actually, the $29 of $35 mil is paid out in the first 4 years, so it’s basically a 4 year deal with three years at $6 mil on the backend. That would amount to about $1.3 mil a season to buy him out after 4 seasons. Pronger gets rich, the Flyers only swallow a $5 mil cap hit and they can reload after 4 years.

Posted by Brando from Memphis on 07/07/09 at 09:17 PM ET

26 or older at the time of termination, the buyout amount is 2/3rd the remaining value.

When a player is bought out, the team still takes a cap hit for the player over twice the remaining length of the contract.  The amount of the cap hit (by year) is determined as follows:

1.  Take the actual salary due for each remaining year.
2.  Take the Averaged Player Salary (cap hit) for the current contract
3.  Calculate the buy-out amount (as described above)
4.  Spread the buy-out amount evenly over twice the remaining years of the contract
5.  Take the number in #1 and subtract the number in #4.  This is the “buyout savings”. 
6.  Take the cap hit from #2 and subtract the buyout savings from #5.

NOTE:  This calculation has to be done for each year - meaning that the cap hit on a buyout will not necessarily be the same for all years (see examples below).  It can even be negative (meaning the team gets a credit).  However, it’s critical to have the correct information for #1 and #2 to get the correct cap hit.  The cap hit on a buyout is only the same for all affected years if the remaining yearly salary is the same for all years.  If it varies, then the cap hit on a buyout will vary.

So basically, after 4 years, they will take a cap hit for 8 more years, if they decide to buy him out

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 07/07/09 at 10:59 PM ET