Quoting: CoachCart
26 years old and the season before his injury he put up 42 points
Next 3 years payable salary including bonus. (Cap hit 3.4)
3.6
2.5
2.5
On a rebuilding team how would that not fit?
I'll assume you understand the Gaborik portion now, thx, a lot of people still can't figure that out.
As for Andreas Johnson, it isn't as much about the amount of salary that's left but the way it's structured. Johnsson looks to me like a capable 3rd line LW, maybe even a middle6 LW. For those that don't understand the difference, middle6 means they can slide up to the second line if needed, but might not have enough production to stay there. The actual salary is fine. It's actually $2.6MM, $2.5MM, $2.5MM The problem with the contract is the way it's structured. $2.6MM in salary this season is okay, but then there's a balloon payment of $1.75MM next spring. Yes the rest of the years salary is only $750K, but that is paid with day to day revenues, ticket sales, merchandising and such. That's the normal process. The balloon payment though, is paid by the owner out of pocket. For a rich team like Toronto, with huge media revenue and merchandising sales, there's more money floating around. In Ottawa, $1.75MM in a balloon payment is a lot. Yes the owner can afford it, but he might have to move money around to free it up. The money isn't just in a bank, and he runs down to the ATM with his super gold platinum excelsior card and makes a withdrawal. Ottawa avoids signing bonuses, really really avoids them. If you want to see a horrible structured contract, check out Steven Stamkos contract.
https://www.capfriendly.com/players/steven-stamkos
There's other structures that are also undesirable, like a high salary in the final year in a contract that ends in RFA. Check out Brayden Points contract
https://www.capfriendly.com/players/brayden-point
What that means is that if TB can't come to terms with Brayden Point on a new contract, TB must qualify him at $9MM or let him walk for nothing.
The other reason for refusing Johnsson is that Ottawa just doesn't need him. They have a lot of middle6 wingers, both veteran and rookies they want to have those spots.
I hope this helps in understanding Johnsson's contract