I recently watched the NHL draft and free agency frenzy on TSN, as well as some of the contract deals in other sports, and it has convinced me that there are no geniuses in the management ranks of professional sports.
Let's start with the Edmonton Oilers
Why on earth would they, or any other hockey team, sign 39-year-old “yesterday's man” Corey Perry to a one-year, $1.4 million contract with bonus incentives, when he scored only eight goals in the playoffs and did nothing but lace up his skates?
The NHL is a game of speed, so adding slow players to the roster seems counterproductive, so if you want great players in your locker room, hire a magician or clown for $500 a night to relax everyone and bank the rest.
My Toronto Maple Leafs were just as stupid when they pumped their fists at the 6 year, $27 million contract they signed with 34 year old Chris Tanev! He's already past his expiration date and will likely be just as useless to the team as Perry was long before he turns 39. He'll be fine for 2 years max.
The NBA just got crazier after the Boston Celtics signed star player Jayson Tatum
He agreed to a five-year, $314 million contract extension. To put this into perspective, I just got an offer on the Tim Hortons app for a Bagel Belt and a muffin for $5.49 to be delivered in three days.
Going back to hockey, when the NHL drafts quality players, they should limit the length of their contracts to three years, to prevent the foolishness of hiring a player like Tanev, who will be 40 when his contract expires. Shorter contracts also provide an incentive for players to work hard and earn a salary.
Another sign of the genius shortage are the calls for the Leafs to trade Mitch Marner, the team's best playmaker and the driving force behind Auston Matthews' prolific scoring. How does trading Marner help the team improve if you can't get another Marner? It doesn't. So Plan B is to make good trades and good draft picks, but you need to check the IQ of management first.
