Whoshattenkirkshoes
Registered User
- Aug 11, 2014
- 4,114
- 1,792
Too many.DK looked absolutely terrible. How Manny more seasons is this guy signed for?
He didn't look horrible, he looked like a run of the mill defender that he is. No better, no worse. But definitely not worthy of the contract he got. And to me, that is so much worse.
He was great until he broke his hand. He took a step back and has stayed a step back. What a shame. Then he gets this doofus contract from the doofus KH.What we're seeing with DK is the problem with assuming improvement from a young player: sometimes it doesn't come. DK's pretty much the same player he was since he got his NHL training wheels off in 2013. If his game had expanded at all from that point, 5 mil for a solid defensive #2 isn't a bad price... but it didn't. Heck, there's at least a half-decent case to be made he's gotten more impatient with the puck in his own zone, while also not getting any better in making that outlet.
Detroit's going to be in a similar kind of box with Larkin, but at least in that case they'll have a few more protected years to observe him.
What we're seeing with DK is the problem with assuming improvement from a young player: sometimes it doesn't come. DK's pretty much the same player he was since he got his NHL training wheels off in 2013. If his game had expanded at all from that point, 5 mil for a solid defensive #2 isn't a bad price... but it didn't. Heck, there's at least a half-decent case to be made he's gotten more impatient with the puck in his own zone, while also not getting any better in making that outlet.
Detroit's going to be in a similar kind of box with Larkin, but at least in that case they'll have a few more protected years to observe him.
DeKeyser was an undrafted kid that never put up numbers in college and doesnt have dynamic skills.
Why people got all excited about him... I’ll never understand. I guess that speaks to just how desperate we had gotten in regards to the defense.
Larkin is not a similar situation at all.
DeKeyser was an undrafted kid that never put up numbers in college and doesnt have dynamic skills.
Why people got all excited about him... I’ll never understand. I guess that speaks to just how desperate we had gotten in regards to the defense.
Larkin is not a similar situation at all.
Or, he is someone that could be great as the #3 on a team that is well coached and has a good core, but sucks as the #1-2 on a badly coached team with no core to speak of.DD got so much hype because he is from Michigan and that was a brand we were trying to sell.
He is what he is, and that is what he always was...
An average depth dman, think a solid #4 but who is now being paid and played as though he were a top two guy
Part of it comes from that we have an expectation that players develop on a curve each season. "If our young guys make the next step..." And while that can happen, it's important to remember that's not a guarantee by any means. With defenders, I think so much of it comes down to having the hockey IQ to read the game at that high speed. That's something one can learn, but to what level is so dependent on how much time the player is putting in and if they have the physical tools to keep up with their head.
With DK, at this stage I'd be happy if he puts all his focus into being a shut down guy who is always playing the correct angles and has his body between the opponent and the net. Not exciting hockey, or not what you expect for his contract, but keep it simple and be a pest in your own zone. Shore that up and maaaaayyybeee we can think about generating more offense.
Looking like 5 long years with DDK now, I was a big DDK fan when we signed him, But now i'm kind of starting to sour on him as well.DK looked absolutely terrible. How Manny more seasons is this guy signed for?
Or, he is someone that could be great as the #3 on a team that is well coached and has a good core, but sucks as the #1-2 on a badly coached team with no core to speak of.
Let's not make the fact that he is looking bad right now cloud our memory of just how good he was for us for 2-3 seasons. It's not complete coincidence that 90% of our roster look like they've forgotten how to play hockey since Babcock left and Datsyuk/Z/Kronner started losing much of their ability (or leaving).
Looking like 5 long years with DDK now, I was a big DDK fan when we drafted him, But now i'm kind of starting to sour on him as well.
He's not paid like a top 2 guy at all, however he earns more than your average 2nd pairing d-man because we're forced to play him in a bigger role.My suspicion is alot of players look better when they're surrounded by elite level talent.
Like I said he is a decent #4 but is being paid AND played as though he were a top 2 guy
He's not paid like a top 2 guy at all
Math says you're wrong...
And even a cursory glance at UFA contracts that have been signed at any time in recent memory tells you that you're wrong.
You have to toss out guys like Rielly, Trouba, Slavin, Pesce, Josi, Klefbom, etc. They signed their deals with a good bit of RFA control remaining, so their AAV is much lower than it reasonably could/should be and when their next deal comes around, it will be WAY higher than 5M.
The Ghostisbehere, Parayko, OEL, etc. contracts are completely unrelated as well for similar reasons.
Jeff Petry, Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Marc Methot, Paul Martin, Karl Alzner, Jason Garrison, Jason Demers, etc. Those guys are all +/- 500k of DDK and they're not top pairing guys.
Kronwall signed his 4.75M deal and before the recapture, everyone loved how low the cap hit was because that wasn't what you should pay a top pairing guy.
Basically if there is a top pairing guy who makes 5M or below on a long term deal right now... it's because he signed it instead of a bridge deal so there was multiple RFA years being bought out as opposed to DDK's one. If they make less money, it's either the long term deal or they're on a bridge deal that will lead to a much bigger contract than $5M in short order.
DDK's deal is run of the mill for a middle pairing (skewed towards #3D over #4) D man.
I mean we literally just signed a defenseman who is better for cheaper off the open market, in Trevor Daley.
DeKeyser is not middle of the pack, he is very much overpaid. Just because there are other overpaid guys, doesn't mean he is not overpaid.