The Crosby Cap

Memo to every NHL free agent between now and London’s summer Olympics: you’re not getting a max deal, and you’re probably not even getting anywhere near the $7 million-a-year contracts Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Daniel Briere were given this summer.

Here’s why: Sidney Crosby’s new deal is only worth $8.5 million a year. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced the reigning MVP’s contract extension Tuesday, and with one contract, accomplished something the salary cap, and all the collusion in the world never would have. They capped NHL salaries.

If you’ve ever seen Crosby operate, you know there’s no one in the league that’s even close to him. After just two NHL seasons, Crosby is rapidly approaching Wayne Gretzky-like territory. It says here, that before his current deal expires, Crosby will have 1000 career points. He does not have a contemporary.

Two guys that rank at the top of the “everyone else” list are Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla. They signed contract extensions this summer that will see them earn an average of $7.2 million and $7 million a season, respectively.

Had these three contracts been in place two weeks ago, it’s safe to say Drury, Gomez and Briere would not have been offered the money they signed for. Drury is a proven leader, with a winning track record (though he hasn’t won much without Joe Sakic), Gomez has enjoyed some success, and Briere is coming off a career-year. None of these guys have the kind of track record Thornton and Iginla do, both in terms of leadership and point production. None of those guys have been Hart Trophy or Lester Pearson nominees, and none of those guys have won Art Ross Trophies.

No MVP awards or scoring titles? Here’s $6 million, don’t ask for more.

TOUR TRACKER

Well, it’s not the first time I’ve been wrong, and it certainly won’t be the last, but contrary to the feeling in the cycling world, Tuesday’s third stage of the Tour de France did not yield a new overall leader. Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara won the stage, posting a time of six hours, 36 minutes, 15 seconds, retaining the yellow jersey in the process. Germany’s Andréas Kloden trails Cancellara by 33 seconds for the overall lead.

Wednesday’s stage four is 193 km from Villers-Cotterêts to Joigny, grazing the foothills of the mountains in the Brie Champenoise and Pay d’Othe regions. In 1539, the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts was signed in Villers-Cotterêts, declaring French the official language of the kingdom. Riders will travel almost entirely south-southeast, and with another 193 km of flat land, Cancellara is a good bet to retain the yellow jersey.