Green's Monster Contract

Green, above, signed a 3-year deal yesterday. (Photo: squidoocdn.com)

The Washington Capitals resigned defenseman Mike Green to a 3-year $18.25 million contract. Green was a restricted free agent that had been with the Capitals since entering the NHL in 2004.

The only question I pose, however, is why so much?

Usually, you only see top NHL talent receiving money like that. He'll be making $6 million every year. In the past three seasons combined, Green played in 156 games. If he matches that mark in the next three seasons, he'll make $116 thousand every game.

That's absurd for someone that hasn't played more than 50 games in either of the past two seasons. From 2006-2010, Green never played less than 65 games in a season. He only made 22 games in rookie season, but that's not a big deal since it was his rookie season.

From 2006-2010, Green appeared in 295 regular season games, scored 70 goals, tallied 147 assists, and a whopping 217 points. In the past two regular seasons, Green has appeared in just 81 games, scored 11 goals, 20 assists, and just 31 points.

Mike Green USED to be worth that kind of money.

Now, the team doctor should be worth that kind of money.

Last season, Green missed all but 32 games due to a concussion and a sports hernia. The guy is a health liability.

The Capitals were ready and willing to overpay the fragile skater. Over the weekend, the offered him a one-year contract worth $5 million. That would have been a much better idea. Now they owe him more money over a longer period of time.

A one-year deal should have been the way to go with this one. It is still up in the air as to his health and if he doesn't pan out, the Capitals owe him an awful lot of money to either be released or sit on the bench. Their best bet to be relieved of his contract would be to trade him, but nobody wants an injury prone defenseman.

Yesterday, Green said in an interview with CSN Washington that he's only getting into his prime. That's great, except that in order to be in your prime you have to be on the ice.

This town has seen a lot of players say that they are just entering their prime. Washington D.C. is smarter than that.

Talk is cheap. Your contract isn't.


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