"I think"? 3 months, I think?
"I think so" is what I say to my wife when she asks me if I can do something that I know I'm probably not going to do
The "think" is the disclaimer
Then you say "I thought"
4.5 is fair for 3 years. 2 years 3.5 to 3.75 is a better deal for Mercer though.
You give Mercer two years in the top 6 with Jack and his third year will be worth 8 million in 3 years from now dollars.
I wouldn't pay a UFA with mercer's play last year 4.5x3 or even 2.5 mill tbh. Why am I paying that for a guy who isn't even eligible for arbitration.
Mercer is a guy you can live without, very replaceable. His value to the team comes from the fact that the team can use the leverage we have on him as a pre arbitration RFA coming off a stinker of a year to get him on a bargain contract.
Pay him 4.5x3 and he's really not providing all that much value. At that point I'd have to have a legitmate debate on whether I'd rather have Teuvo Teravainen on his contract (5.4x3) for the next 3 years.
And Teuvo was a UFA signing with the worst team in hockey.
Mercer is a PRE ARBITRATION RFA.