Halak Agrees to Four-Year Deal/NY Keeping 2014 First Rounder

New York Islander Fan Central | 5/22/2014 04:31:00 PM | |



 “I’m thrilled,” Halak said. “It’s a big opportunity for me. It’s a young team. There are some really good hockey players on the team and that was the biggest factor. Plus I know Lubomir Visnovsky. He’s a really good guy and a good friend of mine.”

 “We’re excited to have Jaro join the organization,” Snow said. “He’s someone we targeted when the season ended and we’re happy he’s made this commitment as we continue to make our team stronger this offseason.”
  
“I’m 29-years-old and I know what it takes to be a number one,” Halak said. “I want to prove myself to everyone that I can be a number one.”

Halak's contract with Islanders was backloaded:

For those wondering these were the terms of his last deal in 2010 for 15M:
 $3.75M average cap hit. $2.75 M next season, $3.50 M in 11-12, $4.25 M in 12-13 and $4.50 M in 13-14.
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NYIFC Comments: 
I'm a little surprised Halak did not test the market enterting UFA for the first time at age twenty eight, expecting bigger dollars/term, however you look at the thirty teams/spots available, Ryan Miller hitting the market (with others) & it was possible he would not have seen a better deal.

He got some term/moderate raise. 

This is also a goalie who's been traded by a lot of teams, who was not rewarded by St Louis, or retained by Washington, so seeing someone wanting him could also have be a factor.

Reasonable signing price, good work by management on this one. New York has it's starting goalie.
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NYIFC Comments: 
The likely result, but there goes any chance at participating in a possible future league wide lottery for a generational talent. Of course the rules for 2015 have not been changed yet in terms of the NHL lottery where 30 teams would get such an opportunity so you play by the current rules.