September 02, 2009

'We're really ecstatic': Roberto Luongo, Canucks agree to 12-year contract extension: An "ecstatic" Roberto Luongo has agreed to a 12-year contract extension through the 2021-22 National Hockey League season worth $64 million US with the Vancouver Canucks, saying he looks forward to the opportunity to bring a Stanley Cup title to the West Coast. The deal breaks down like this: in 2010-11, the first season of the extension, Luongo will earn $10 million. In 2011-12, he will make $6.716 million. From the 2012-13 to the 2017-18 seasons, he will earn $6.714 million each campaign. In 2018-19, Luongo will make $3.382 million, which will drop to $1.618 million in 2019-20. In the final two seasons of the contract -- the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns -- he will earn $1 million each. For the Canucks, the annual salary cap hit will be $5.33 million.

posted by tommytrump to hockey at 06:17 PM - 10 comments

Twelve years? Holy moley.

posted by rcade at 07:44 PM on September 02, 2009

Didn't he get a ridculously long contract from the Islanders a few years ago?

posted by billsaysthis at 08:03 PM on September 02, 2009

Didn't he get a ridculously long contract from the Islanders a few years ago?

No, you're thinking of Rick "Ouch, My Hip Hurts" DiPietro.

2006-2021 (15 years) $67,500,000

posted by tommybiden at 08:11 PM on September 02, 2009

Twelve years? Holy moley.

That's twelve years to a thirty year old goaltender. Should we place bets now on if he fulfills the full length of the contract?

posted by MrFrisby at 08:43 PM on September 02, 2009

Should we place bets now on if he fulfills the full length of the contract?

$20 says no he doesn't.

posted by Spitztengle at 12:24 AM on September 03, 2009

Should we place bets now on if he fulfills the full length of the contract?

I'll cash in my 401 on that bet, especially if they expect him to play 70-75 games a year...

posted by MeatSaber at 12:32 AM on September 03, 2009

This is the way NHL contracts are going for the top guys --- frontloaded long greements with a small overall cap hit. No one expects him to play at age 42, the points is he gets big money now but doesn't take the team down with him. After a few years, they renegotiate, maybe. Zetterberg's is the same way.

Anyway, this is good for the Canucks, doesn't help this year but Luongo is definitely a 5 million/year goalie. Expect Schneider to be traded, hopefully someone will overpay for him. He's an unproven prospect really, an excellent AHL goalie but no evidence he can do it in the bigs yet. They should trade him before he proves he can't.

posted by rumple at 12:58 AM on September 03, 2009

After a few years, they renegotiate, maybe. Zetterberg's is the same way.


N.H.L. contracts cannot be renegotiated at any point during the life of the contract , according to the collective bargaining agreement.

posted by tommybiden at 01:47 AM on September 03, 2009

Ah, ok, but they could nonetheless buy him out for the last few years at 2/3 salary if it came to that. I suspect Lou would retire before he really sucked.

posted by rumple at 12:21 AM on September 04, 2009

12 years is a lifetime and then some for a professional atlete's contract! I don't believe that Luongo has that kind of longevity! I believe he already has a history of injury, and the NHL season is gruelling, probably the toughest physically in all of professional sports. That being said, he is an elite goalie, but he must backstop at least 2 cups (probably more) to warrant that kind of loyalty from the Canucks. I'm sure there has to be some kind of loophole to allow either party to opt out of the contract. It's make or break for Luongo! The Canucks fans are going to be ecstatic or pissed in the next few seasons. It seems to be a lot of eggs in one basket.

posted by Vikesfanh8sfavre at 11:58 PM on September 04, 2009

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