What was the longest contract a hockey player signed?

Question

I recently read something on sports website that LeCavalier signed an 11 year deal with Tampa... Which is ridiculously long. And my question has nothing to do with renewing or resigning to the same team once their old contract is up.

Answer 1

is there any longer than Lecavlier's?

Answer 2

DiPietro i guess  but his contract wasnt up if thats  what your asking

Answer 3

Rick Dipietro signed a 15 year 67.5 Million dollar contract with the New York Islanders last year.

longest ever in the NHL.

Answer 4

didn't ovechkin sign like a 13 year deal or something or maybe it was longer then that.

Answer 5

Oilers owner Peter Pocklington signed Wayne Gretzky (you may have heard of him?) to a 20 year contract in 1979 but I don't remember how legitimate this deal really was

Tripod : it was with Pock - Skalbania had dealt Gretz and Eddie Mio to Edm. in 77-78

Answer 6

the old original 6 you signed to the team and they either kept you or traded you so like gordie howe played 25 years in detroit.the contract was for as long as they wanted you.

Answer 7

Ed Snider signed Bobby Clarke to a lifetime services contract back in the 70's. But I don't know what the longest is in terms of playing.

Answer 8

lcayote, prior to expansion, players signed one year contracts and each September the teams decided which players to renew, and which players to release.  There was no real free agency back then - by the time the team had made a decision to release you - it was hard to catch on with other clubs.

The difference between now and then is that contracts weren't negotiated in the same manner.  You took what you were offered because once they offered it to you............you couldn't say no and go somewhere else.  The offer bound you to the team whether you signed the contract or not.

For the longest contract, on January 26, 1979,  Wayne Gretzky signed a 21 year contract with the Edmonton Oilers.  

http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/WH...

The problem with the above link is that it fails to mention that the WHA and NHL had already agreed to merge (that happened in November 1978) beginning with the 1979-80 season.

Answer 9

I think DiPietro's contract was 15 years. And I can't remember if the contract Wayne Gretzky signed for 20 years was a Peter Pocklington or Nelson Skalbania deal.