Very happy for Backstrom!
With Backy, specifically, I’m much less concerned with the age factor, for him, so the length AND amount aren’t a problem for me! I’ll explain my train of thought in just a minute.
First off, however, I want to preface that I, generally speaking, am an ANTI, big and long contract guy!
IMO, the majority of longer term, high money contracts, by their very nature, passively bring a natural DIS-incentive, for the player, to have to CONTINUALLY strive to BETTER themselves, in terms of skill improvement, athleticism, maintaining an outstanding, loyalty driven, upward, and professional, attitude, for their sport, team, fans, and themselves!! NOT TO MENTION, conducting your life, in a manner, no where NEAR getting in any criminal trouble!!👍
Hardy-fuckin’-Har-Har-Har!!🤣 and lets add in a BWAAHAHAHA!, while we’re at it!!
Isn’t it amazing!....that what I just said is so DAMN, old school, and outdated, that it is actually, NOW, a frickin hilarious concept!!😆
Well people...actually you’re correct... it is a freaking hilarious concept!
WHAT A DAMN SHAME, though, for us older folks that can remember a time, not so long ago, when it was a REALITY!!!👍👍👍
So it’s easy to understand, for some of us, why we don’t like to see money spent, on POTENTIAL!!
Now, having said all this, I assure you, I’m 100% aware, that the reality is, The market will pay it, and ownership is more than willing, because the athlete and ownership, know that the player can get paid elsewhere!!!
This is the business of sports today!... I GET IT....AND, I can still think of it as weak-ass shit, that has evolved over decades, for millions of complex reasons! I also get that I have to acccept it, in order to allow myself to enjoy some modicum of competitive professional sports! But it’s also why I don’t like long term, big money contracts, generally speaking!! (OK, that’s over).
Back now to Nicky!
I happen to think that his overall skill set, and value, that are inherent to HIS specific type of play, AREN’T as affected as much by aging! So it’s not worrisome to me!
Age is obviously a big factor when it comes to quickness and speed, longer stamina, and such!
What Backstrom brings to the table, mostly, is his INTENSE, playmaking ability, born from INTELLIGENT playmaking decisions, combined with hockey wisdom, and EXPERIENCE, which actually IMPROVES with age!!
He’s not dependent on excessive physicality, OR super speed and stamina, for HIS type of game! These would all be considerably diminished with the aging process!
He IS, however, extremely observant, and alert, (not necessarily affected by age), and he has a long term, PROVEN, work ethic! ( which is unlikely to change with age, also!).
Additionally he uses his KNOWLEDGE, and experience, to make those incredible, Play making passes, and moves, that make it seem like he has eyes in the back of his head!! These also are not, generally age worry issues!! So the news is GOOD, in my opinion!
ADD IN the fact, that his signing, makes it even more likely that Ovi will also want to stay, and I think you’ve got a great decision all around, by management!!
This may also be giving Holtby a subtle, little message! As in, he’s probably not gonna be around, and better step up his play, NOW, if he wants to keep good value on the trade market!
Rush
