The contract
Alex Killorn signs a four-year, $6.25 million AAV deal with the Ducks.
Shayna Goldman: There we have it friends, the biggest overpayment so far. Stanley Cup rings tend to have a positive effect on salaries, for the player at least. And Alex Killorn has two, plus a third trip to the final. But those contracts tend to age pretty poorly for the team, and it won’t be surprising to see that happen here.
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Along with bringing a championship pedigree, Killorn’s an effective winger with offensive upside. He can recover pucks to keep offensive plays alive, contribute some shots off the cycle, and is known for his hand-eye coordination in the net-front area. But the fact of the matter is that he’s 33 years old, and he can only be expected to perform at this level for so long moving forward. That age doesn’t scream four-year deal and not at this cap hit — especially when there’s a big talent gap from his former surroundings in Tampa Bay to his new environment. There’s a very good chance his production declines quicker than expected on his new team.
A team like Anaheim, which isn’t very competitive and has a ton of cap space, may be able to afford it. But it doesn’t make sense for them to, honestly. Yes, it can help to bring in players with leadership qualities to help keep the vibes up in the locker room when the on-ice product is bringing everyone down but to commit to this contract for four years is still a leap management didn’t need to take.
Killorn probably couldn’t have gotten this payday elsewhere. And those that could swing it probably wouldn’t want to, and rightfully so considering how this contract will age. Sometimes a player in his position has to choose between the money and being competitive. It seems that he’s won his Cups and chose the former which is his right. It’s just an odd choice. While there’s some up-and-coming talent in Anaheim that’s exciting, this team is so far removed from what he was just a part of. Maybe the Ducks turn it around late in his contract, but just how big of a part of it will he be by then?
Contract grade: D
Fit grade: C+
Eric Duhatschek: So on a day when NHL teams went bargain hunting almost from the opening bell, you were waiting and wondering to see if any team might revert to the old free-agent strategy of wildly overpaying for a veteran player, whose best years are, in all probability, behind them. Yes, finally! It took almost two hours for it to happen but it finally did. The Ducks gave the 33-year-old Killorn a four-year contract, with a $6.25 million AAV, after coming off a career-high season in which he scored 27 goals and 64 points. Of course, he scored those points playing in the top six of a Tampa Bay Lightning team that included the likes of Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. He’s not going to have that luxury in Anaheim.
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The current GM in Anaheim, Pat Verbeek, worked alongside Steve Yzerman for years in Tampa Bay and was with the Lightning as the assistant GM and player personnel director when Killorn broke into the league. So, a lot of familiarity between the player and the manager. Presumably, the explanation will be that Killorn fills the need for veteran leadership on a young team that will be led by a rookie coach in Greg Cronin next season. The Ducks’ focus will be on Killorn’s intangibles, as much as what he’ll bring on the ice. But that contract will age poorly. Almost every other team in a similar position — looking for the right dressing room chemistry — was able to add a veteran piece at a discount today. Anaheim paid a premium.
I mean, annually, Killorn will earn $2.5 million more than Ryan O’Reilly will from Nashville, where he was added to help rebuild the culture. Sure, the market is upside down this year. Teams needed to take advantage because who knows how long it might last? The Ducks didn’t.
Contract grade: F
Fit grade: C-
(Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)