What would you offer for a young (just turned 24), first pairing defensemen who is signed through 23-24 at a 3M AAV?
Maybe a better question is: why would you trade a guy like that?
Even is we say Robertson replaces Lindgren. It won't be next season. It makes no sense to trade a fiesty player like Lindgren, when we don't have a better option for LD1. Unless your team is absolutely stcked on the left side, he's very useful.
Especially on his contract. He's very valuable at only 3 mil.
I like Robertson. That said, I don't know if he really replaces Lindgren. Even when Fox was out leading up to the ASG break, Lindgren was still playing 20 minutes a night. And more than effectively.
Fellow NYR fans do not want to face the music and take their medicine, instead kicking the can down the road instead of proactively dealing with stuff.
We have enuf if Strome+Geo+Nemeth+Hajek not replaced/substituted, add recovery of Hank 1.5 buyout cap hit, to = 11m + for Fox + Zib.
We still need scratch $ for Kakko, LaF +++. There is enuf writing on the wall that they see most of Trouba's 8m will go as soon as it can, whether that is sooner or later, and latest scenario is only 2 seasons more hence. Thus they can be a bit reasonable on a bridge that covers close to when first that happens and then Panarin's deal is up and he goes buh bye or is re-signed for a lot less.
Howev, in the meantime, every nickel will have to be scratched. Robertson played very well, was runner up to Schneider in some rating. Some growing pains/learning curve at NHL level, likely if not probably. But no ?, selling high on Lindy and replacing his reasonable 3 x 3 with an even more affordable elc is NO ? the only way to go here.
I get he is a fan favorite, Fox preference, etc, but math does not lie. Fox + Panarin are getting close to max top $, they can't complain when team, despite spending to cap max, can't be more generous.
We need to get down to a real core, and that means going younger still b'c youth = cheaper elcs/rfas. A core w'o excess will allow guys to play with regular partners/linemates which will promote efficiency, chemistry etc.
