On Monday, the Boston Bruins held their 9th annual golf tournament in Bolton, Mass. -- the perfect place for reporters to ask players about the looming lockout.
One of the players queried was Tyler Seguin, who led the Bruins in scoring last season and will become a restricted free agent at the end of 2012-13.
Unsurprisingly, Seguin wants a new deal before the CBA expires on Sept. 15.
From WEEI:Seguin said he wants to get a deal done before the 15th. Said they’ve had good talks.
— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) September 10, 2012
Seguin didn’t seem worried about the contract at all. Don’t be surprised if that happens soon.
— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) September 10, 2012
Seguin, 20, is set to make $3.55 million in the final year of his entry-level contract and, in terms of an extension, is likely eying the seven-year, $42 million extension fellow 2010 draftee Taylor Hall recently signed in Edmonton.
Looking beyond Seguin, the Bruins could face a similar circumstance with Milan Lucic, another young forward that’s set to become a RFA after next season.
Lucic is in the final year of a deal that pays $4.08 million annually, and his situation is compounded by the fact Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli just gave Brad Marchand a four-year, $18 million extension (like Lucic and Seguin, Marchand was set to become a RFA in 2013).
That has many asking the question -- “If Marchand’s worth $18 million, what do the Bruins pay Lucic?”
It’s a legit query given Lucic’s posted back-to-back 60-point seasons, fought 13 times and missed just four games to injury.
Chiarelli’s on record saying he doesn’t like seeing his players get to free agency and one has to think that’s the case with Lucic, who -- should he become an RFA at the end of the year -- would be 25 and one of the game’s best young power forwards.