Vegas Golden Knights fans were greeted with some sweet news on Thursday. They heard that Braeden Bowman signed a six-year extension worth $3.4 million per year. Now that's something that everyone can enjoy (as told in an old Offspring song).
The news makes perfect sense for the undrafted forward. He scored eight goals and 18 assists in his rookie campaign last season, giving himself a projected spot in this season's forward group. He did well enough to even earn a contract extension in the process.
For some, giving a young player with a good rookie season seems like a haphazard move. How do you know that he'll duplicate that season again with the Golden Knights? Can he even come close to achieving that mark in the upcoming season? That's the big question.
But here's the thing. The deal is a win-win for many reasons. Even if it doesn't work out, the deal is structured nicely to give the Golden Knights plenty of leeway. But that's not the only reason why the deal will work out fine. Here are three reasons why this is an absolute steal for Vegas.
1.) Bowman provides a youth injection into the Golden Knights' forward group
The Golden Knights aren't getting any younger in age as an NHL team. They're tied for the third-oldest group in the upcoming season, with an average age of 30. That's why the Braeden Bowman deal is worth the investment.
He's one of the players to keep the Stanley Cup window wide open. Imagine a youth movement consisting of Bowman, Trevor Connelly, and Carl Lindbom keeping Vegas around. That might enrage other hockey fans to an unhealthy degree. However, it'll be another spoke in the wheel of success that the Golden Knights have rolling.
2.) He's shown that he can handle the pressure when called upon
Tell me, dear reader. How many people can go undrafted in the NHL Draft and still manage eight goals and 18 assists in 54 games? Not many can, which is a testament to the 23-year-old handling the pressure of playing in the big leagues with ease.
Imagine what he could be with more experience and seasoning under his belt. The Golden Knights can get a Mark Stone-lite player (at least, in the eyes of the fans) who can handle positioning and attacking without a problem. If he continues trending in the right direction, that spells good news for Vegas's future.
3.) The deal itself will be a drop in the bucket for the Golden Knights' salary cap
$3.4 million AAV is a sweetheart deal for the salary cap, especially if it's for six years. Kelly McCrimmon is well-versed in crafting valuable deals that give the Golden Knights flexibility and that's just scratching the surface.
The salary cap continues to increase, which will give Vegas a discount in the future. Add in a lack of a no-trade clause of any form and McCrimmon has all the power in the world to put the Golden Knights in a win-win position.
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