The Anaheim Ducks committed to star forwards Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf in a big way this month, signing both to eight-year extensions worth a combined $135 million.
Undoubtedly, the money was a big part of their pitch.
But the eight year term is significant as well. Under the new CBA, contracts for unrestricted free agents can run no longer than seven years, but a contract extension can be eight. It goes without saying that Perry and Getzlaf were enticed, in part, by the extra year that the Ducks were able to offer, which will keep them under contract past their 35th birthdays.
But there's another new CBA provision that the Ducks were able to flex in drawing up these new contracts: introducing the Jeff Carter clause.
(That's not what it's actually called. But it's easy to see why we should call it that.)
Both Perry and Getzlaf's new deals come with no-movement clauses, but where they differ from the no-movement clauses of the past is that they kick in immediately, as opposed to next summer, when the rest of the deal goes into effect. This is, according to Pierre Lebrun, a new wrinkle in the CBA that allows such clauses to be activated right away upon signing an extension.
Regrettably, this means that it will be impossible to replace the L.A Kings' team-building model for Stanley Cup success.
You'll recall the surprise of Jeff Carter, who signed an 11-year extensions with the Philadelphia Flyers in the fall of 2010, back when 11-year extensions were a thing you could do. The deal included a no-trade clause, but unfortunately, it didn't take effect until the following summer.
Before it did, the Flyers traded both him and best bud Mike Richards. Richards didn't seem to mind the move to Los Angeles, but Carter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he wasn't happy about it.
It all worked out for Carter, of course, as he got to reunite with his buddy in L.A and win a Cup, but clearly, the players made pains to ensure that this could never happen again during CBA negotiations. And Perry and Getzlaf both took advantage of this new provision to ensure that they couldn't be "Cartered" if the situation in Anaheim changes.