Big, physical, excellent skating unicorns like Zadorov will always have a market. The term he was asking for was completely doable. Considering the 6 year contract he signed for takes him to 34/35, he should realistically be good for pretty much 85% of that contract barring career altering injuries.
Ya, I wouldn't have re-signed Lindholm. It just didn't make sense. I would have liked a high-end winger but none came available, unfortunately.
Ya, and I said this at the time, but Zadorov's "downside" is a bottom pairing defensemen, and what he would provide as a bottom pairing defensemen, would be worth around 3 million (for reference, Dasharnais, who was obviously just healthy scratched the last couple games, is getting paid 2 million). So, at worst, you are probably overpaying him 2 million a year, and he's still providing a unique physical edge that 95% of defensemen don't provide.
$9.75M for Desharnais, Forbort, Heinen Sprong, Myers
Yea I much rather have Zadorov and Friedman on the bottom pair at like $6m, than the Desharnais + Forbort + Heinen signing. I get that the latter group are on short term contracts that we can move on from fairly quickly, however, they are all either low upside acquisition or bad gambles (IMO), they don't move the needle at best, and becomes slight anchors at worst. Z provided us with so much, and while inconsistent, is a very valuable player. I was sad to see him go.
Lindholm wouldn't have worked out here. We don't have a Pastrnak level player to pair him with, and he won't be able to produce very much otherwise. He had some chemistry with Garland/Joshua, but if that is your 2nd line (assuming we move Petey in this scenario), you aren't a serious contender. I also think he will become an anchor to the cap in his last 2-3 years on his contract, if not sooner. His production has been on a steady decline for a couple seasons now, its only going to get worse.
Yes, in the end with Zadorov it was 'the term' that was the killer. Canucks just weren't willing to commit that many years to a d-man whom they still have to carry well into his 30's. Maybe it was the OEL hangover that discouraged them.
I'm not sure why they are so worried about the term. Like you said they don't really have much in the pipeline, maybe EP2 makes it as 3LD down the road, then him and Z can interchange for the 2LD/3LD role after Soucy leave in 2 summer. As the cap keep going up, $5m is probably the going rate for the average/below average 2nd pairing D.
8 years takes him to 37 yrs old no serious injuries but could have done 6 years to 35 yrs old.
