Confirmed with Link: Mattias Samuelsson Signs 7 year extension ($4.29M AAV)

[Willgamesh]

If he bombs out, they won't need to buy him out. Some GM that overvalues physical play will trade for him.

Exactly. The upsides out way the downsides.

 

[Chainshot]

Absolutely massive W. This will be beyond a steal very quickly.

As of right now, he's 71st in payroll for all defenseman signed for next season. That's before any UFA's or anyone else signs. So that's what, less than 40% of the league even before next summer's UFA's and RFA extensions? It's very solid.

You. Don't. Sign. Players. To. Long. Term. Deals. After. One. good. NHL. Season.

I like Samuelsson as much as anyone. This is completely and totally unecessary.

Between this and Thompson, Adams is just gambling away cap space and hoping these are good deals in 3 years when he has no reason to. Just unforced errors.

Go look at Toronto with Zaitsev. Or Ottawa with Chabot. You don't go into these long term deals lightly.

I will preface this with every situation is unique, but we did just see the team fritter away an opportunity to sign a guy who helped make their star player go in Reinhart by repeatedly bridging the guy rather than judging him as core and locking him in. That in turn contributed to Eichel's departure. Sammy is someone who helps make Dahlin go. They have an opportunity to not make the same mistakes and they also have an opportunity to start penciling in their salary structure. If a player doesn't play more than Sammy, how do they come in asking for more? Same with Thompson - it establishes more of their internal payroll structure.

 

[kirby11]

They got their Hjalmarsson locked up to what could be a massively below-market deal if Samuelsson continues progressing and meshing well with Dahlin.

AKA what they should've done with Reinhart years ago, except Botts was an idiot.

 

[Jim Bob]

People used to be jealous of the Couturier deal with the Flyers. I see this deal for Samuelsson aging in a similar way. If Samuelsson-Dahlin is a pairing for the next 8 years, this deal will work out well for the Sabres.

 

[Zman5778]

Saw this and my initial reaction was.....direct quote here.... "What the f***???"

This is a gamble by KA, no doubt. But IMO, it's a very good gamble. If his play never improves, this is a solid deal that will be a steal as the cap goes up. If he and Dahlin go Beast Mode........this contract sets the standard of steals.

If he turns out to be a middling 3rd pairing guy......we buy him out at 1/3,

Great gamble and I really hope it works.

 

[Fjordy]

If he bombs out, they won't need to buy him out. Some GM that overvalues physical play will trade for him.

Yeah, Chiarot, Gudbranson and so on

 

[Chainshot]

If he bombs out, they won't need to buy him out. Some GM that overvalues physical play will trade for him.

Oh my God, that's Cliff Fletcher's music!



Seriously though for a moment, would we rather have Samuelsson at $4.125M or Provorovorovooroov at $6.75M?

 

[Fezzy126]

As of right now this would make Sammy the 71st highest paid defender next year. That's before other extensions or next years FA crop.

Of course things could always go bad (injury, negative development, warts in his game persist). But this has the potential to be a great bargain deal as soon as year #2 or 3.

 

[Zman5778]

There has never been a player with that limited of a resume get this type of contract. I don’t know that he’s a long term solution in the top 4. I’m not even sure I have reason to be optimistic about it.

He's starting on our top pair with Dahlin after having solid results there last year. If that doesn't give you a reason for optimism.......and a reason to think that he could be a long term solution in the top 4......there's nothing that will.

 

[Chainshot]

Saw this and my initial reaction was.....direct quote here.... "What the f***???"

This is a gamble by KA, no doubt. But IMO, it's a very good gamble. If his play never improves, this is a solid deal that will be a steal as the cap goes up. If he and Dahlin go Beast Mode........this contract sets the standard of steals.

If he turns out to be a middling 3rd pairing guy......we buy him out at 1/3,

Great gamble and I really hope it works.

My son read it out as I was reading him the Granato extension news. I had a similar take - wow, was not expecting this.

At the moment, he's going to be paid like a 2nd pairing guy as of next year.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

Oh my God, that's Cliff Fletcher's music!



Seriously though for a moment, would we rather have Samuelsson at $4.125M or Provorovorovooroov at $6.75M?

Or Risto at 5.1M

 

[zenthusiast]

Nice

 

[Chainshot]

As of right now this would make Sammy the 71st highest paid defender next year. That's before other extensions or next years FA crop.

Of course things could always go bad (injury, negative development, warts in his game persist). But this has the potential to be a great bargain deal as soon as year #2 or 3.

Yep, that's 2nd pairing pay. For the PK and shutdown impacts, it's a solid bet that they get better value out of him going forward.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I'm fine with the term. But I figured a contract this early would get us a much lower AAV, since AAV mostly seems based on scoring, and he doesn't score at all.

In my spreadsheets where I project cap out to future years, I only had him making $3M because I didn't think he brought enough offense to go higher than that. Shows how much I know.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Now lock up Dahls and OP and we'll have these 3 behemoths for years to come!

 

[Dirty Dog]

I'm fine with the term. But I figured a contract this early would get us a much lower AAV, since AAV mostly seems based on scoring, and he doesn't score at all.

In my spreadsheets where I project cap out to future years, I only had him making $3M because I didn't think he brought enough offense to go higher than that. Shows how much I know.

I don’t disagree, but why would he ever sign a long term deal based on zero offense. His response would be “no, let’s revisit this contract in a year then”

 

[elchud]

AMAZEBALLS

NOW DO ASPLUND

 

[Chainshot]

AMAZEBALLS

NOW DO ASPLUND

I want Asplund done just to see the mains further in flames and the Evolving twins dancing in the embers.

 

[Ace]

This is a tremendous deal. This is the best deal on the books with all that term at that number,

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

AMAZEBALLS

NOW DO ASPLUND

Lets get a Cozens deal done first before we start to worry about Asplund..

 

[Dubi Doo]

I'm ecstatic about this deal. If there's one player I'm not worried about in regards to continuing having success in the NHL- it's Samuelsson.

I'm psyched, man. I really am. We're going to have Samuelsson, Dahlin, and Power here for the long haul. That's awesome.

 

[Jim Bob]

Lets get a Cozens deal done first before we start to worry about Asplund..

I do not think it needs to be an either/or thing.

 

[TehDoak]

I will preface this with every situation is unique, but we did just see the team fritter away an opportunity to sign a guy who helped make their star player go in Reinhart by repeatedly bridging the guy rather than judging him as core and locking him in. That in turn contributed to Eichel's departure. Sammy is someone who helps make Dahlin go. They have an opportunity to not make the same mistakes and they also have an opportunity to start penciling in their salary structure. If a player doesn't play more than Sammy, how do they come in asking for more? Same with Thompson - it establishes more of their internal payroll structure.

Buffalo effed up Reinhart, 100%. But.....this is going the other way. This is just a pure unforced error. Even if Samuelsson has an incredible season....what's the price for a physical d-man. 4M on a bridge or 5M long term? He isn't arb elgible, he isn't going to get offersheeted. There's no reason to give out 7 years now.

It's all risk and very little reward.

 

[Dingo44]

One thing that I think needs mentioning is that these deals are showing guys want to be here and develop and grow with the team. That will help other guys on the team feel good about signing long term deals as well (especially because based on all accounts Sammy is a much loved guy to be around) and will also help when we recruit UFA's, or have to sign our college players (Levi, Johnson, Portillo...).

 

[Chainshot]