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Mat Akselsen has just signed his rookie deal. Sources say the terms of the contract are 3 years $3 million, at $1 million per year. In a surprise to many, Akselsen successfully negotiated a no-trade clause for the duration of the contract. Looks like Akselsen really wants to stay up in Canada. He released a statement on the deal through his agent:
"I'm really happy I've signed my rookie deal with the Yelowknife Wraiths. This is the team I wanted to be drafted by all along, and it feels good to make my dream a reality. I'm happy to get to work in Canada and bring a championship home to the amazing Canadian people. They've been nothing but perfectly friendly ever since I came up here. I was actually offered a higher initial deal by the front office, however, money isn't everything and I'm still gonna be a millionaire which is better than 99% of people in the world. I think taking a team friendly deal will allow us to be even better, and for my own purposes having this no-trade clause should allow me to have stability in my early years. I don't want to have to learn a new offense every other year or wonder if I'm going to be a part of a trade. Being on the same team for three years will really help my development as I try to become the best lineman in the league."
It's refreshing to see a player want to stay in a small market area and help build something from the ground up. I'm sure everyone will be checking up on Akselsen to see if his best lineman in the league projection holds up.