News & Notes XLV: Simply Having A Wonderful Canesmastime

[Blueline Bomber]

I just realized we play the Leafs tomorrow and it’s the 5 year anniversary of the David Ayres game.

 

[CandyCanes]

I just realized we play the Leafs tomorrow and it’s the 5 year anniversary of the David Ayres game.

It’s been 5 years? What the heck!

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

It’s been 5 years? What the heck!

COVID broke time.

 

[hblueridgegal]

Lots of performance vids and stats along with a little adjustment and contract content.

About 32 Thoughts stuff yesterday:

“I understand people are speculating and stuff like that, it’s normal,” Rantanen told The Athletic later that day. “I don’t worry about that. I just try to focus on what happens on the ice.”

About his next contract:
In the very near future, the numbers suggest Rantanen is due for a points spree. In the longer term, he has a different kind of windfall coming his way. It’s just a matter of where.

“You think about it,” he said. “But with the 4 Nations, I just had a week and a half thinking about Team Finland stuff. Now we’re back, but I haven’t really had too much time to sit down and really think. For now, I’m just trying to focus on the games and try to help the team here. But eventually, you’ve got to think about the future.”

From Aho:
And no, Aho didn’t spend all his time in Montreal and Boston giving Rantanen the hard sell on sticking around for, say, eight more seasons.

“I leave him alone, mostly,” Aho said. “It’s probably a big shock to get traded midseason, so I just try to be there as a friend and help him off the ice. If he needs help figuring out where to eat, I’ll help with that. Normal stuff. It’s quite a lot to jump to a new city and a new team.”

 

[bleedgreen]

Lots of performance vids and stats along with a little adjustment and contract content.

I think his linemates have been the biggest issue so far. They look a bit needy to be liked by the guy the way they force pucks at him whether it’s timed well or not. Aho and whoever the other guy is have to kind of forget he’s there and go back to business as usual. Rants can figure it out himself. He’s a sniper, he knows what to do with the puck. He also has to be greedy and not worry about making his new team like him.

We like you buddy.

 

[robbieberns]

Appreciate that article, going to really boil the blood of a lot of folks who are desperate for whatever reason to force the opposite narrative.

 

[Svechhammer]

Appreciate that article, going to really boil the blood of a lot of folks who are desperate for whatever reason to force the opposite narrative.

No worries, those people have grown quite accustomed to rejecting reality and pushing their own when it comes to the Canes. They will absolutely ignore this article

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Righting a wrong from Season 1.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Former Cane update: if there ever even was a honeymoon for Elias Lindholm in Boston, it’s over now.

Bruins Signing Elias Lindholm Proving to Be a Costly Mistake - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

The Boston Bruins made a costly gamble when they signed Elias Lindholm to a long contract this offseason; one that seems unlikely to pay off.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[chaz4hockey]

Lots of performance vids and stats along with a little adjustment and contract content.

Yikes....Re: Aho.....Yankees Judge left Soto alone too and he ended up off the team.

Every person buys differently but I'd think at minimum a soft sell would be important

 

[bleedgreen]

Former Cane update: if there ever even was a honeymoon for Elias Lindholm in Boston, it’s over now.

Bruins Signing Elias Lindholm Proving to Be a Costly Mistake - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More

The Boston Bruins made a costly gamble when they signed Elias Lindholm to a long contract this offseason; one that seems unlikely to pay off.

thehockeywriters.com

I don’t get it. They say “if he was signed to be a middle six forward it wouldn’t be bad”.

Of course he was signed to be a middle six forward? Presumably a 2C? Did anyone think he was a 1C for under 8 million? When they recycle in a year or two he’s still a good 1B or 2C. I’d still take him in a heartbeat for our 2C.

 

[Chrispy]

I don’t get it. They say “if he was signed to be a middle six forward it wouldn’t be bad”.

Of course he was signed to be a middle six forward? Presumably a 2C? Did anyone think he was a 1C for under 8 million? When they recycle in a year or two he’s still a good 1B or 2C. I’d still take him in a heartbeat for our 2C.

He was a 1C in Calgary, and he was clearly signed to be a 1C in Boston. $7.75 was the highest price given out to any C actually on the market (not Crosby or Drai) last off-season.

If you want to argue he's a wing, he's still paid like a top line wing (Verhaghe signed for $7M, Konecny for $8.75M, Buchnevich for $8M.) He's not in the elite tier but was certainly signed to be a 1C ahead of Zacha.

Now with the cap going up, I agree he slots much better into a 2C role at that price. But that was signed before the huge cap increase was known.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I don’t get it. They say “if he was signed to be a middle six forward it wouldn’t be bad”.

Of course he was signed to be a middle six forward? Presumably a 2C? Did anyone think he was a 1C for under 8 million? When they recycle in a year or two he’s still a good 1B or 2C. I’d still take him in a heartbeat for our 2C.

Lindholm seems to perpetually be talked about as if he’s a legit 1C when he’s obviously not that guy. It sets him up to be a disappointment, as team after team gets excited about some little flash of offense over a few games, and then realize the reality when he settles into a long stretch of mediocrity. He’d be adored if he settled comfortably into a 2C role somewhere, but he’s paid 1C money with correlating expectations.

Running Lindholm as 1C in an Original Six or Canadian market is like shooting a blockbuster with Mark Ruffalo as the leading man.

 

[bleedgreen]

He was a 1C in Calgary, and he was clearly signed to be a 1C in Boston. $7.75 was the highest price given out to any C actually on the market (not Crosby or Drai) last off-season.

If you want to argue he's a wing, he's still paid like a top line wing (Verhaghe signed for $7M, Konecny for $8.75M, Buchnevich for $8M.) He's not in the elite tier but was certainly signed to be a 1C ahead of Zacha.

Now with the cap going up, I agree he slots much better into a 2C role at that price. But that was signed before the huge cap increase was known.

A 1C in today’s ufa market for 7.75?!? Cmon. They signed him to be part of a forward group and filled a center spot with a skilled guy who can fit in with skilled players. There weren’t any number one centers available. He got signed to Kadri money who no one thinks is a 1C - he’s a 2C. Just because he’s above Zacha doesn’t mean he’s expected to be a 1C? You sign centers when you get a chance to sign them, this was a common sense move not a “we’ve stolen a 1C for the price of a 2C!!”.

No one thought he was a true play driving 1C after his one season. You just dislike him because he made fun of the skol clap….right?

 

[bleedgreen]

Lindholm seems to perpetually be talked about as if he’s a legit 1C when he’s obviously not that guy. It sets him up to be a disappointment, as team after team gets excited about some little flash of offense over a few games, and then realize the reality when he settles into a long stretch of mediocrity. He’d be adored if he settled comfortably into a 2C role somewhere, but he’s paid 1C money with correlating expectations.

Running Lindholm as 1C in an Original Six or Canadian market is like shooting a blockbuster with Mark Ruffalo as the leading man.

You think 7.75 is 1C money too? As a ufa?

I think they signed him with expectations of him being a 2C level guy as part of their group and hoping they find a 1C above him who actually gets paid like one. This was smart money to me, if he can be at the 2C level itll be a great contract after they recycle and come back.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Lindy has like four more points than Koko getting more time per game and we sure don't think he's a 2C. Can't imagine that's what they paid for. I think they were at least gunning for a 2C that could play up with a talented guy like Pasta as a 1C. I don't know that he won't rebound at some point, but they absolutely signed him to be better than he's been so far no matter what vague term you want to use a la top six, middle six, etc.

 

[HisIceness]

Lindholm peaked after 2022. Boston f***ed up just like they f***ed up 2015 draft.

 

[bleedgreen]

Lindy has like four more points than Koko getting more time per game and we sure don't think he's a 2C. Can't imagine that's what they paid for. I think they were at least gunning for a 2C that could play up with a talented guy like Pasta as a 1C. I don't know that he won't rebound at some point, but they absolutely signed him to be better than he's been so far no matter what vague term you want to use a la top six, middle six, etc.

Sure, but do we really think that’s the player he is? He’s having a crap year on a team where the wheels are finally falling off. They expected better from their whole team including Lindholm.

This isn’t who he is overall. I agree with your take on what they thought they were getting. That locker room is having issues. Everyone knows this.

 

[tarheelhockey]

You think 7.75 is 1C money too? As a ufa?

I think they signed him with expectations of him being a 2C level guy as part of their group and hoping they find a 1C above him who actually gets paid like one. This was smart money to me, if he can be at the 2C level itll be a great contract after they recycle and come back.

I think Lindholm’s contract, like Lindholm himself, is close enough to 1C territory that it sets an expectation that he can’t fulfill.

Jack Hughes and JT Miller make $8M, Robert Thomas $8.1M, Stutzle $8.3M. By the time you get to $8.5M you’re talking about guys like Schiefele and (pre-2025) Zibanejad. When you see a guy within $1M of those names, you want that guy to be at least somewhat in that conversation.

 

[bleedgreen]

I think Lindholm’s contract, like Lindholm himself, is close enough to 1C territory that it sets an expectation that he can’t fulfill.

Jack Hughes and JT Miller make $8M, Robert Thomas $8.1M, Stutzle $8.3M. By the time you get to $8.5M you’re talking about guys like Schiefele and (pre-2025) Zibanejad. When you see a guy within $1M of those names, you want that guy to be at least somewhat in that conversation.

Kadri makes 7, and from a few years ago. As a ufa which as a comparison makes more sense a few that you’ve mentioned. Hughes, Thomas, Stutzle….

You can’t compare a cost controlled rfa vs a ufa.

He’s easily a 50-60 pt guy in the right situation. I’d expect him to fit in a lot easier with us than someone else we’re waiting on.

I don’t think they remotely thought they were getting a 1C. All this negative press is off base, especially in light of the teams struggles. Of course it’s a disappointment but it’s very early in the contact.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Kadri makes 7, and from a few years ago. As a ufa which as a comparison makes more sense a few that you’ve mentioned. Hughes, Thomas, Stutzle….

You can’t compare a cost controlled rfa vs a ufa.

I get the UFA/RFA distinction, but those are 8-year deals that buy a bunch of UFA seasons and likely take the players all the way through their peaks. They’re a fair gauge of what the cheaper part of the 1C field costs at this time.

Now, what you’re getting at is that a much worse player is going to make comparable money as a pure UFA. Which is true, and a reason not to sign such a deal. Everyone who said the Kadri deal was awful from the get-go has been proven correct.

He’s easily a 50-60 pt guy in the right situation. I’d expect him to fit in a lot easier with us than someone else we’re waiting on.

Agreed, he’d help us.

 

[bleedgreen]

I get the UFA/RFA distinction, but those are 8-year deals that buy a bunch of UFA seasons and likely take the players all the way through their peaks. They’re a fair gauge of what the cheaper part of the 1C field costs at this time.

Now, what you’re getting at is that a much worse player is going to make comparable money as a pure UFA. Which is true, and a reason not to sign such a deal. Everyone who said the Kadri deal was awful from the get-go has been proven correct.



Agreed, he’d help us.

I just think 2C’s are in the 6-8 million range now, especially when they’re righty and defensively solid. Tro took a friendly deal to go to the Rangers I thought at the time, but even that deal today would fall into the range I’m saying.

He’s had a shit year, but he’s better than this and his struggles really reflect the team struggles. I’m mostly arguing against the concept that the B’s thought they signed a 1C, I don’t see a strong argument there at all.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

NHL agent poll: Best and worst owners, Connor McDavid’s contract, future GMs

Who is the toughest team to deal with? Should the NHL have a play-in round? We polled 19 agents, who represent hundreds of players.

www.nytimes.com

Pretty much confirms what we already knew:

Dundon is micromanaging every aspect of this franchise and his negotiation tactics are a big negative. 10 of the 19 agents picked him as worst owner in the league

 

[Svechhammer]

NHL agent poll: Best and worst owners, Connor McDavid’s contract, future GMs

Who is the toughest team to deal with? Should the NHL have a play-in round? We polled 19 agents, who represent hundreds of players.

www.nytimes.com

Pretty much confirms what we already knew:

Dundon is micromanaging every aspect of this franchise and his negotiation tactics are a big negative. 10 of the 19 agents picked him as worst owner in the league

They outright said the environment in the front office is toxic.

If you believe them, when things start to go sideways here and we're not a good team, its going to get real ugly real quick.

 

[chaz4hockey]

Fan view:
Oh, I don’t know about the conclusion that Canes are poorly run and Dundon sucks.

We are lucky to have him versus the previous ownership, team has excelled, he spends to the cap, recent drafts have been superb, significant investment being made at Lenovo and quite frankly I don’t expect owners to be the friend of agents as they are negotiating adversaries.

It’s the agent job to spend lots of money; owners job to be more prudent.