2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[WarriorofTime]

I wonder if we're going to see guys who would normally sign deals with more term decide to sign deals with shorter term and higher AAV this summer because they're going to want another shot at the open market when the cap is at 113M. If I'm KD, part of my strategy might be to offer guys deals like 2 X $12M instead of 7 X 9M. They get their cash and another shot at free agency and we get players for this year. Then it might be easier to sign them again when they get comfortable here and see all of the prospects come up.

Hockey players should have always been doing this. Matthews seemed to realize the value, but it seems like a lot of hockey players just want to play it safe and secure as much term. To maximize earnings, shorter term is the way to go, and of course it carries a bit of risk. I just think the risk/reward amongst hockey players has been way off in this respect. But as you said, with a known world where the cap is shooting up, perhaps more players will be more aggressive this summer.

 

[MHO]

Hockey players should have always been doing this. Matthews seemed to realize the value, but it seems like a lot of hockey players just want to play it safe and secure as much term. To maximize earnings, shorter term is the way to go, and of course it carries a bit of risk. I just think the risk/reward amongst hockey players has been way off in this respect. But as you said, with a known world where the cap is shooting up, perhaps more players will be more aggressive this summer.

But now the reward element has been augmented by the fact that the cap is going up significantly for the next 3 years.

 

[dreadpirateroberts]

I’m not sure a team of small forwards in Bedard, Nazar, Rossi, and eventually Kantserov is smart team building

 

[Hawkaholic]

Yeah, not interested at all.

 

[kmwtrucks]

But now the reward element has been augmented by the fact that the cap is going up significantly for the next 3 years.

also you do not know how the next CBA is going to work? do they change the rev split slighlty? or change the # of years on contracts. Injury is always a concern and play falling off.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I’m not sure a team of small forwards in Bedard, Nazar, Rossi, and eventually Kantserov is smart team building

You start high with negotiations, so whichever GM lands Rossi probably signs him at 6M.

But as for Chicago, it's part of Kyle's job to explore an option like that. But he'll only go so far with talks for an undersized forward. At the end of the day, I think Rossi is behind Bedard and Nazar on the center depth chart. So you're only going to pay so much for a 3C.

 

[dj Mahoney]

You start high with negotiations, so whichever GM lands Rossi probably signs him at 6M.

But as for Chicago, it's part of Kyle's job to explore an option like that. But he'll only go so far with talks for an undersized forward. At the end of the day, I think Rossi is behind Bedard and Nazar on the center depth chart. So you're only going to pay so much for a 3C.

IMO he's not even remotely close to a fit . Bedard , Nazar , Moore , Greene , Boisvert , and 3rd overall this year . Veleno probably is going to have an increased role with Blashill here ?

 

[Kevin Musto]

IMO he's not even remotely close to a fit . Bedard , Nazar , Moore , Greene , Boisvert , and 3rd overall this year . Veleno probably is going to have an increased role with Blashill here ?

Veleno honestly looked promising to close the year.

I could see him being a rock solid 4C that can slide up to 3C in a pinch.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

You start high with negotiations, so whichever GM lands Rossi probably signs him at 6M.

But as for Chicago, it's part of Kyle's job to explore an option like that. But he'll only go so far with talks for an undersized forward. At the end of the day, I think Rossi is behind Bedard and Nazar on the center depth chart. So you're only going to pay so much for a 3C.

$6m is the old $4m. If you can get him at $6m without movement protection thats a pretty good get IMO. We'd have the ability to move him prior to serious contention if necessary. I'd be fine with either TOR or FLA 1st as the main piece with a sweetner.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

You can never have too many centers. You just play them at wing.

 

[BHFAN92]

You can never have too many centers. You just play them at wing.

I get you cant have too many centers philosophy..however his size is the main deterent for me. If you are fine with a 5'9 180 pound center than I would rather just take Hagens at #3 ova and not give up the assets for Rossi

 

[Hawkaholic]

 

[dj Mahoney]

Impressive record in ECHL , great hire . He can school Lev & KK this year to get them ready for fulltime in 2026/27. Work with Harding and possibly half a year with Del Mastro & Allan .

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I get you cant have too many centers philosophy..however his size is the main deterent for me. If you are fine with a 5'9 180 pound center than I would rather just take Hagens at #3 ova and not give up the assets for Rossi

I'd take both.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

There has to be a price where Rossi becomes interesting - a late 1st for a former lotto pick that put up 60 points and fits the rebuild timeline? If thats the price for Rossi does that mean that is the likely market for Peterka as well?

 

[Kevin Musto]

There has to be a price where Rossi becomes interesting - a late 1st for a former lotto pick that put up 60 points and fits the rebuild timeline? If thats the price for Rossi does that mean that is the likely market for Peterka as well?

If it's 25th overall for Rossi, then I make that trade all day.

I couldn't care less if his fit isn't ideal... the odds of drafting a player that good at 25 are so low, it'd be foolish not to make that trade.

Seems like this could be an unforced error for Minnesota.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

If it's 25th overall for Rossi, then I make that trade all day.

I couldn't care less if his fit isn't ideal... the odds of drafting a player that good at 25 are so low, it'd be foolish not to make that trade.

Seems like this could be an unforced error for Minnesota.

Right - is it just an over-reactive move given contract demands and his perceived deficiencies with his size that Guerin potentially walks into a mistake, maybe so.

There could also be draft implications to a move like this because if they see Martone as BPA but don't like the fact that they don't have a lot of certain center depth on the roster then Rossi would allow them to check that box and go Martone at 3. and feel a bit more confident in what they have

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Doubt very much Wild would move Rossi to division rival who while currently pretty shitty could be a problem in future

 

[WarriorofTime]

I couldn't care less if his fit isn't ideal... the odds of drafting a player that good at 25 are so low, it'd be foolish not to make that trade.

That's not the whole calculation though. You're committing to paying him as a core piece and giving up some future flexibility in doing so.

 

[Crow]

Hockey players should have always been doing this. Matthews seemed to realize the value, but it seems like a lot of hockey players just want to play it safe and secure as much term. To maximize earnings, shorter term is the way to go, and of course it carries a bit of risk. I just think the risk/reward amongst hockey players has been way off in this respect. But as you said, with a known world where the cap is shooting up, perhaps more players will be more aggressive this summer.

We will have to wait and see if it was the right choice even for him. Matthew might miss out on a lot of money if his wrist injury persists.

 

[WarriorofTime]

We will have to wait and see if it was the right choice even for him. Matthew might miss out on a lot of money if his wrist injury persists.

There's risk involved of course, but I think chances are very high that in 2-3 years, Auston Matthews will still be commanding a mega contract to at the very least "backfill" the four years he would have gotten had his current contract been an 8-year deal. He will be 31 in 2028. If he ends up with an 8-year deal at that point, he will have really played it perfectly because he will secure big money for his 36-39 age years (because they really wanted those 32-34 aged years, and the cost of that is those back years and they'll deal with that issue later). Whereas had he signed for 8 years now, then it's a lot less likely someone is giving him a new big money deal when he's 35.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

There's risk involved of course, but I think chances are very high that in 2-3 years, Auston Matthews will still be commanding a mega contract to at the very least "backfill" the four years he would have gotten had his current contract been an 8-year deal. He will be 31 in 2028. If he ends up with an 8-year deal at that point, he will have really played it perfectly because he will secure big money for his 36-39 age years (because they really wanted those 32-34 aged years, and the cost of that is those back years and they'll deal with that issue later). Whereas had he signed for 8 years now, then it's a lot less likely someone is giving him a new big money deal when he's 35.

He absolutely knows what he is doing to maximize his career earnings, but in the process, he made it more difficult for his own team to win....That core gave that management team hell when it came to extensions, it always seemed like money first winning second to that group

 

[WarriorofTime]

He absolutely knows what he is doing to maximize his career earnings, but in the process, he made it more difficult for his own team to win....That core gave that management team hell when it came to extensions, it always seemed like money first winning second to that group

Very true, that's the choice he made. Nice for his wallet, not so great for Leafs. Obviously we hope Bedard has more of that Crosby/MacKinnon type mentality rather than maximizing every cent.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Very true, that's the choice he made. Nice for his wallet, not so great for Leafs. Obviously we hope Bedard has more of that Crosby/MacKinnon type mentality rather than maximizing every cent.

Right, and even McDavid signed an 8-year deal when things didn't look so clear where that team was going. And does Matthews truly love hockey or is he just elite at it and it's a way to create generational wealth...Bedard we know is a hockey junkie and I fully believe him when he says that he hasn't thought at all about his next deal getting done with the Hawks.

We also might be making the case here for signing Bedard to an 8-year extension rather than a bridge because if he does a short-term deal once he might shift his philosophy as he gets older to maximizing his earnings to stay, especially if the team doesn't show progress say halfway into his next deal.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

If Rossi really is available for a late 1st+ KD better be all over it. He's Kris Versteeg with a brain minus the snarl and he's a center. Guy plays like Hagel. Really smart in all three zones.

Yes please. Bill Guerin is an idiot.