The Colorado Avalanche signed winger Logan O’Connor to a six-year deal with a $2.5 million AAV, NHL.com reported. The deal will keep a core member of the Avs in the lineup for the foreseeable future.
The move is a savvy one. As my colleague Graham Tiedtke pointed out, the deal is an “absolute bargain for a key piece of the Avalanche.”
There’s no questioning Tiedtke’s line of thinking. He’s spot on underscoring what LOC means to the Colorado Avalanche.
So, let’s dig a little deeper and focus on three main reasons why LOC’s extension was a savvy move by the Colorado Avalanche.
Three key reasons why Logan O’Connor’s extension was a savvy move by the Colorado Avalanche
LOC is a penalty kill specialist
LOC has made a name for himself as one of the league’s best penalty killers. While the power play generally gets the lion’s share of special teams’ attention, the fact is that the penalty kill often gets overlooked.
That’s unfortunate because the penalty kill is just as valuable as the power play. The best teams often have solid penalty kill units.
That’s where O’Connor fits in. He’s part of the Avs’ penalty kill that’s consistently atop the NHL rankings. When looking at LOC’s role from that perspective, he’s a key team member.
O’Connor is still a young player with upside
Even at 28, O’Connor is still a young player. He’s entering his fourth full season in the NHL, and still has the potential to grow as a full-time NHLer.
Now, looking at LOC’s numbers, they don’t jump off the page. Still, they are solid for what most would consider a “bottom-six” player. O’Connor is yet to top 30 points in a season.
However, he would have easily topped that total last season had he not been injured. LOC registered 25 points in 57 games last year. So, it wouldn’t be a stretch to consider that O’Connor could have reached 40 points last year.
Could he break that mark this season?
It’s certainly possible, especially with the way the Roaring 20s line has gelled as a unit. But there’s another stat that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. In the last three season, LOC registered plus-10, 11, and 13.
Those numbers point toward O’Connor being the type of player that the Avs want on the ice every time the game is on the line.
O’Connor’s cap hit is ridiculously team friendly
It’s rare for teams to sign skilled depth players at team-friendly deals. That’s what makes this contract extension such a great deal.
The Avs get to keep a highly valuable member at a reasonable cap hit. In fact, it could be argued that O’Connor signed below market value.
But that’s what happens when players and teams are committed to winning. Players accept a bit less to stay on a team that has a chance to win. Meanwhile, the team commits to a long-term deal, knowing they have a player who’s willing to work hard to keep the team competitive.
Overall, this deal could be one of Chris MacFarland’s best deals. The contract should only look better with time.