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Senators extend Kuba 3 years, $3.7M


Filip Kuba

#17 / Defenseman / Ottawa Senators

6-5

225

Dec 29, 1976


TSN is reporting that the Ottawa Senators have re-signed defenceman Filip Kuba to a 3-year, $3.7M per contract extension. It's a hefty raise from his $3M salary this season, but far below the $4.5M that he was apparently looking for.


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Filip Kuba 54 2 27 29 8 24 2 0 0 0 91 2.2

Kuba has been the Senators' best defenceman this season, but--realistically--that hasn't been too difficult. Still, the Senators have been looking for a puck-moving defenceman, and Kuba has been a half-decent fill-in while Ottawa looked for an elite player.

It is unclear how the Senators' defence corps will move forward at this point. All of Kuba, Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov, Jason Smith, Alex Picard, and Chris Campoli have one-way NHL contracts at a sum total of just over $14.2M, and Brian Lee, Mattias Karlsson, and Erik Karlsson may be looking for a spot on the Senators' d-corps. There still may be a trade to clear that log-jam before the NHL trade deadline, but right now there's quite a bit of traffic.

To be honest, this is a surprising move. In anticipation of a reducing salary cap, a three-year deal of this amount to Kuba, combined with the expensive long-term deals Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher, and now Pascal Leclaire have, the Senators will almost certainly be in cap trouble within the next couple of years. Kuba was also seen as one of the Senators' most valuable assets in building towards the future, and was expected to bring in a first-round pick--and possibly a prospect or another pick on top of that.

As good as Kuba has been this season, he hasn't been a number one defenceman, but now he's being paid like one. And the Senators have little to no cap room to sign a true number one defenceman now. Unless Campoli turns out to be the number-one puck-mover GM Bryan Murray expects him to be, or Kuba can really step up his play, this may not be the right move for the Senators at this point in time.

EDIT: Rumours suggest that Kuba's contract includes a no-trade clause. Although Kuba has been willing to waive similar clauses in the past, it seems that a team with as many long-term contracts as the Senators would like as much trading flexibility as possible moving forward.

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Well, uh, that's strange

I do like Kuba and all, but aren’t we supposed to be trying for a rebuild?

by Graham on Mar 4, 2009 10:49 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

yea…..

Because Taking The Leafs Seriously Is Not An Option

by JaredFromLondon on Mar 4, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

NO TRADE CLAUSE?!?!?!?

YOU SWARMING PILE OF RAT FECES MURRAY

by Matthew on Mar 4, 2009 11:23 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Cheer up

At least Kuba is good

by Graham on Mar 4, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

so what? Kuba already had an NTC. Why would he resign without one?

by sundance on Mar 4, 2009 11:31 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'm not blaming Kuba

I’m just annoyed that the team’s future financial flexibility is further hampered by the clause.

by ningwers on Mar 4, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

o well

he seemed open to waiving his NTC this time around.

by sundance on Mar 4, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Murray’s giving out NTCs like JFJ!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 4, 2009 11:42 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

...

God damn it.

by ningwers on Mar 4, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Weird indeed

And awesome for the B-Sens. (Assuming he goes there.)

by PeterR on Mar 4, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Not specifically

I’m basing it on him not being among the four players Myrtle listed as being claimed.

by ningwers on Mar 4, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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