This is the problem with both contracts. The money is fine for right now (moreso in Marchessault's case relative to actual production, 8 million for 45 points is pretty yikes). But both contracts take them right into 38 years old. Neither guy is going to be worth their cap hit in the last two years of their respective contracts. You can argue Stamkos isn't worth his right now.
I don't know if Nashville is planning to LTIRetire them in the future but if they aren't then those contracts become albatross deals really quickly. And I'm saying this as someone who would've loved Marchessault to either stay in my neck of the woods and failing that, go to Anaheim as some veteran offensive reinforcement. But I'm glad Anaheim didn't go as far as the Preds did. Even if we can stomach that contract for four years, we're already looking at a Killorn overpay on a guy who will start age regressing even harder before long. Giving a lot of money to older players just for the sake of getting
someone shouldn't be the precedent.
And my concern is, this UFA class isn't really all that promising considering all the talk of "Verbeek better go out and get a talented top 6 winger"
Marner: Unlikely to want to go to a rebuilder, will command a heavy price tag, especially given California's tax rates but he is fairly age controlled.
Tavares: Old, probably wants to go to a contender and might take a pay cut to do it.
Benn: Old, f*** that guy, will probably regress heavily starting next season
Boeser: Possible but we'd have to overpay and give him term. 28 years old is solid for the timeline.
Giroux: Old. I wouldn't be opposed to a one year deal but I doubt he wants to come here.
Marchand: Old, will probably want to go back to Boston or a contender.
Hall: Already in talks for a re-up with Carolina, not even that good anymore anyway.
Nelson: Fairly old as of today, Will probably stay in Colorado.
Nik Ehlers: Probably the most attractive option but he is due a
heavy raise. With California taxes in play we'd probably have to shell out 8.5-9m with term and no guarantee that he produces the same here.
Mangiapane: Short, not crazy productive on a very good Washington team. Don't see him as a highly attractive piece, but he's on the list I'm looking at.
Kuzmenko: 28 yo, not exactly who you think of when you think talented top 6 player, so you can see that the pool of available talent is already dwindling.
Oshie: Oldest guy mentioned so far. Not putting up big numbers on a talented Washington team, no reason to expect he'd be top 6 quality here.
Bennett: Would likely need to pay him more than he's worth to convince him to come over. He's a bona fide U-30 second liner with a physical edge in his game, but am I okay with Verbeek throwing 7.5+ million with term to convince him to sign? I don't think I am.
I don't really feel like continuing. The rest are either 34 year olds or third and fourth liners that don't fit the mold of what we've been talking about.
We could offer sheet Gabe Vilardi if we're truly done rebuilding out of the draft
. Point is there's maybe two guys up there that really fit what this team needs and isn't approaching retirement age. There's 31 other teams with the option to try to sign them. I think some expectation management would go a long way around here. We legitmately might be better off trying to package D prospects and picks to pick up forward talent in the trade market than hoping an FA signing will be the win we're hoping for.
)
