Rumors of a stunning contract for free agent defenseman Tyler Myers.

If someone pays this price I think there are going to be a lot of angry fans out there.

We are now just a few short days away from the opening of free agency in the National Hockey League and although it can be a very exciting time of year, it is also the time of year that teams in the NHL and their respective general managers make their very worst mistakes. We do not have to look back very far to point to some catastrophic overpays that have hampered the teams that handed out the contracts, just ask the Edmonton Oilers about Milan Lucic or the Vancouver Canucks about Loui Eriksson.

You would think that over the years general managers would become more and more reasonable and would learn to overpay for big name free agents. Not only does it seem like they have failed to learn from their previous mistakes but it now is starting to sound like this free agent period, a relatively weak class overall, may end up being the worst example of overpaying free agents yet. 

According to stunning comments made by National Hockey League insider Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, it now appears that Winnipeg Jets defenseman Tyler Myers is set to receive a staggering payday. Lavoie reported that he expects Myers will earn a max deal that could see him collect as much as $8 million per season in average annual value. 

"I do believe Myers will be a 7 year contract. it could be $8 million per season. $6 million might be a bit low," said Lavoie. "GM's are looking at the cap being lower and demand for young players - could be less money spent in FA but there's a lot of demand for defensemen."

That demand for defensemen is likely what is inflating the price on Myers right now. There are almost no other options on the market this time around and supply and demand is merely a reality of life. I have no problem stating however that if Myers earns $8 million on a 7 year deal the team that signs him to such a gaudy contract will come to regret it long before that deal has run its course.