My interest in the big ticket free agents is very limited. Mainly because I think we're going to see some crazy contracts again. Especially with the cap going up.
I thought Skjei would be interesting last summer under the right terms. He is 30 years old... Nashville signed him to that huge 7 year deal worth 7M per year with a NMC. Ew. That team is in shambles. Toronto was so desperate they gave a 34 year old Chris Tanev a 6 year full NMC until hes 40. Good luck with that.
That's the optics I view a Gavrikov signing in right now. He turns 30 in the beginning of the season next year. Would I like to add him? Sure, under the right conditions. But you know some team is going to do it. They're going to give him 7 years +6M per year and I don't want to be the team that does. Call it Girardi/Staal PTSD, whatever. You generally have to be a real special player for that to work out. Pietrangelo is a guy you could look at and say that sort of deal has worked out real well. He was 30 when he signed. But again, special player. For each one of those good ones you can find a number of poor ones. The Marc Vlasic deal SJ gave him was destined to suck, that contract has hampered them for years. A bunch of deals like this have recently been signed by lesser players. I'd be curious to see how they look in a few years.
A guy like Chychrun? His injury history scares me, but he'll be 27 when his next deal starts. I can get behind a big deal there. But I'd be kinda surprised if he leaves Washington at this point. Glad we didn't trade our scraps for him like WSH did
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Provorov? He'll be 28 in a week. Talent-wise is that a guy you want to pay big money to until he's 35? Eh, I don't know, I'm not sold. I think he could've been an interesting placeholder. The age here I'm not too concerned about... but again, talent-wise is that the guy you'd want to lock in and anchor a pair for 7 years? It'll likely carry trade protection too. I'm not thrilled. I'd like him under the right terms but I doubt he signs for anything less than 6 or 7 years.
Marcus Pettersson I have a similar opinion about. He'll be 29 when his next deal starts. He'd be a great target at the right term. That's a guy you can feel comfortable with pairing next to Fox. I'm not super interested in paying him until he's 36. He could be a guy though that maybe doesn't carry the same name recognition as the above two, so maybe he goes for less. I'd look at what guys like Forsling, Pesce, Lindell, etc.. just signed at around the same age... they got under 6M per. Maybe you can get Pettersson in the 5s. Again, don't love paying him until he's 36, but at that price it's a bit more acceptable.
Orlov might be the guy to look at this summer if he doesn't stay in Carolina. He'll be 34 next season so unless you're Toronto the term should be very minimal. Better for us, little commitment. He can still play. Short term stop gap.
Oliver Kylington signed for nothing with Colorado this past summer. He got injured at the beginning of the season. If the Avs don't re-sign him I'd gladly take him as a reclamation project. Near league minimum, zero risk. I'd have no expectations about him playing up in the lineup but maybe he grabs a spot on the bottom pairing.
I still like Matheson in Montreal as a trade target. Cheap deal with 1 year left after this season. 4.875M per. Anyone remember the last game they played against us he had that nice goal? Solid all around defenseman. He's got size, he can move the puck really well. I don't think the ask would be crazy. He'll be 31 in a month. You'll see good organizations make those sorts of moves where they don't necessarily have to go out and target the biggest fish. They target a guy flying under the radar that can add something to their team. That'd be Matheson for me.
