George McPhee was asked about the trend of NHL teams signing their young stars to long-term contracts and a wry smile came across the Golden Knights general manager’s face.
“I’m certainly not unfamiliar with it,” he said.
McPhee was GM of the Washington Capitals when the team signed Alex Ovechkin to a record 13-year, $124 million contract extension in 2008. Ovechkin was 22 and in the final season of his three-year, entry-level deal.
The Capitals haven’t won a Stanley Cup with Ovechkin, but the contract might have proven to be ahead of its time.
Last week, Buffalo signed 20-year-old Jack Eichel to the league-maximum eight-year contract ($80 million).