Juan Soto got a shiny 15-year, $765 deal with the New York Mets on Sunday evening. The contract is almost worth as much as the Columbus Blue Jackets ($1.06 billion), which has everyone in Ohio freaking out.
So what does this have to do with the Vegas Golden Knights (or the NHL, in general)? For one, Shea Theodore got a seven-year, $51.975 million extension on October 24. Then, Brayden McNabb got a three-year, $10.95 million contract with the Golden Knights on November 15.
Those deals pale in comparison to Soto's new deal for numerous reasons. One, MLB doesn't have a salary cap like the NHL does. While the NHL did go without a salary cap until 2005, the stipulation has stopped drastic increases in player salaries.
While those salaries are slowly rising (see Leon Draisaitl's eight-year, $14 million AAV deal), it still leaves a complex puzzle for NHL teams to figure out. Who stays with the team? Do we need this player or can we trade him to the Chicago Blackhawks? Can we let this player buy some cowboy boots and march on down to Nashville?
Such complex questions have been controversial for Golden Knights fans, specifically with Kelly McCrimmon. It didn't matter if it was Jonathan Marchessault or Marc-Andre Fleury. The general manager was pressed with tough questions and handled them perfectly. But what does this have to do with signing contracts?
How Kelly McCrimmon and the Golden Knights have handled contracts well
McCrimmon and the Golden Knights have handled team contracts well. How, you might ask? For one, the front office knows about locking in a player's value long-term. Let's use Brett Howden as a perfect example.
The forward signed a five-year, $12.5 million deal with the Golden Knights on November 22. Howden is having a terrific season, scoring 10 goals. He was expected to earn more on the open market, especially since he's projected to score 29 goals in 2024-25. Imagine Howden getting a $3-$3.5 million deal with the Winnipeg Jets. Why let the 26-year-old hit free agency when you can bolster your bottom-six forward group at a cheaper price?
The New York Mets added Soto on a long 15-year contract worth $765 million. That deal could've landed him an NHL team, specifically the Arizona Coyotes (if they didn't move, of course). However, it's an albatross pact where a player with average fielding (and can't pitch!) is getting paid. Even with an opt-out after five years and the Mets' ability to void the opt-out clause after 2029, the deal could hinder the Mets later.
Looking at a 33-year-old winger who's 5'9", one would think he wasn't worth a five-year deal given his deteriorating skills. That's why it made sense that McCrimmon retained Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb. Both "Misfits" fit the Vegas Golden Knights's system, making them valuable pieces. McNabb stays on a three-year extension while the younger Theodore sticks around for seven years (a long-term piece like Soto, except he's better on the power play).
Fans have grown accustomed to not question Kelly McCrimmon's motives regarding specific players. He knows who deserves a deal and who wants to win. That's why the Golden Knights are atop the Pacific Division and competing for another Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, the Mets, while a fun team firmly in the World Series mix, are still paying Bobby Bonilla.