Some of the NHL‘s young guns recently graduated from entry-level deals to big-time contracts–Jeff Skinner and Taylor Hall chief among them–so could it be time for Tyler Seguin to move up to a big pay day?
Contract negotiations are reportedly getting underway with Seguin and could heat up in the near future. Drafted second overall–just behind Hall–at the 2010 draft means Seguin is nearing the end of his three-year entry-level contract.
He’s currently pulling in a $900,000 NHL salary with $2.65 million in performance bonuses and a $90,000 signing bonus for a total of a $3.55 million cap hit per year.
By comparison, Hall just went from a $3.75 million cap hit ($900,000 salary plus $2.85 million performance bonus and $90,000 signing bonus–the Edmonton Oilers‘ biggest rookie deal ever) to $6 million in salary. Skinner jumped from a $1.4 million cap hit ($900,000 salary plus $500,000 performance bonus and $90,000 signing bonus) to a $5.725 million hit with what will eventually reach $6 million in salary.
These deals provide an idea for what the Boston Bruins might try to give Seguin. His performance has certainly merited the idea of a raise. Consider that he scored two points in his first playoff game, then four points in his second, showing he could jump in and help out when the team needed him to be at his best. Here’s a video of that four-point game, the first four-point playoff game by a teenager since Trevor Linden in 1989 (before Seguin was even born):
He built upon his burst of playoff success atop a decent rookie campaign by having an excellent sophomore season. No slump for him–Seguin performed very well, especially when matched up with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand on the team’s second line.
His November 2011 hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs (in Toronto, in front of his family) helped the Bruins shake off their lousy October and craft a fantastic November.
Seguin works well with Marchand, his right-hand man, as seen in this goal against Buffalo.
But Bergeron also brings out the best in Seguin, as seen in this goal, also against Buffalo.
Though Game 7 didn’t go Boston’s way, if it weren’t for Seguin’s overtime goal in Game 6 of the 2012 playoffs against Washington, there may not have been a Game 7 anyway.
He finished his sophomore campaign as the Bruins’ leader in goals (29) and points (67). His +34 rating stood as the second best in the entire NHL.
Plus, a nice new contract for Seguin would give Jack Edwards something else to gush about. He’s always been very enthused with Seguin’s skills and speed, as shown in the hat trick video.
Though Seguin has been staying busy this offseason, as seen on his Twitter, he hasn’t said anything about potential new contracts. He’s pretty chummy with his agent, though, and he might provide some insight in the near future as negotiations continue.
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