Contract Termination: [STL] F Brandon Saad to have contract terminated by the Blues - will go on unconditional waivers 1/30

[GordonGraham]

Much rather get 5M playing in the AHL with zero pressure than 1M in NHL

 

[3074326]

I'm still laughing over the trade proposal some homer in St. Louis made in December -- Saad at 50% and Toropchenko for a 1st and Bobby McMann. @StlBigFly

How about no Toropchenko, no 1st and no McMann?

Saad for about $10,000 that doesn't count against the cap?

Still no takers?

How about just terminating his lousy contract altogether? Aaah -- that works, now!

Keep your 1st and keep your player. He'll be a free agent soon enough

I made a comment about that and it got deleted. Very strange what is considered ok to post. Love the consistency, lol.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Watch him sign with a contending team at a low cost.

 

[ClydeLee]

As others pointed out, Saad has made a decent amount already. He probably realizes he won't have many more cracks at the playoffs so perhaps he values that a bit more than money at this juncture of his career. Zach Bogosian terminated his deal with Buffalo since teams couldn't fit him under the cap even with retention. Bogosian then signed with Tampa and won a Cup. Granted Bogosian was in the final year of his deal, so he left much less on the table than Saad will be doing in giving up ~1.5 years of his previous contract.

Saad has won 2 cups, sure he can still hunt for a playoff contender to sign with, but it seems different than a guy like Bogo who was desperate to have meaningful hockey as he never got to the playoffs in his career.

Some have pointed it might just be that adverse to the AHL travel life. Which sure isn't great.

 

[willy702]

Those who say it's a lot of money probably don't have anywhere near 50+m of career earnings. This is the pettiness and stupidity of pro contract money now. Guy turns something down that makes him a few million more and people cant believe it and say hey give me that money. Of course.

His lifestyle ain't changing even if he doesn't manage to out earn what he's giving up before he retires. He's a pro athlete that's been to the top of the mountain twice, why would he even bother playing in the AHL?

 

[Sparksrus3]

He's only 32 and scored 26 last year. How cooked is this guy? Seems like he could be a decent vet addition to a bottom 6

Sometimes players are bread to be top 6 all in or bust and are not bottom 6 quality if that makes sense to the masses

 

[HolyGhost]

Much rather get 5M playing in the AHL with zero pressure than 1M in NHL

After 10 years in the NHL money is no longer his motivation

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Bergevin was always rumored to want him so my bet is LA

 

[Lunatik]

might be a situation where the player is valuing himself over the dollars. Walking away from 5.3 million. But if he gets to an offensive first team/situation could get him a nice contract in the offseason. Colorado, Edmonton, Florida, Tampa, Dallas, Vegas are teams to look at. Will most likely get him a good contract in the offseason

Another option is a deal for this year and next year with a team that's rebuilding and can force feed him top 6 minutes and then trade him at next years deadline

 

[Brodeur]

Saad has won 2 cups, sure he can still hunt for a playoff contender to sign with, but it seems different than a guy like Bogo who was desperate to have meaningful hockey as he never got to the playoffs in his career.

Some have pointed it might just be that adverse to the AHL travel life. Which sure isn't great.

For sure AHL life isn't very glamorous especially for an older player. My buddy has an amusing story about running into Eddie Lack at a San Diego bar after a game when he got demoted from Calgary. Lack was loudly lamenting being in the AHL and that the Flames didn't give him enough of a chance. But since he was still getting his NHL salary, Lack happily bought his AHL teammates (and other folks) drinks that night.

Certainly Bogosian was more starved for playoff success, but I can only imagine it being a little sobering when every NHL teams passes on you. Saad might be thinking he doesn't have many more chances at the playoffs.

 

[Lunatik]

After 10 years in the NHL money is no longer his motivation

People always say this, but it is all dependent on their lifestyle and financial decisions. We hear about broke professional athletes all the time.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I'll never knock a guy betting on himself but Zadina did this last year and it blew up spectacularly.

Saad is betting he can get back, or close to his previous play just last year.

Zadina was never good in the NHL.

 

[Ciao]

Glad I was able to make your day.

I’m absolutely a homer. I want my team to win every game and every trade.

Just like you

For sure, we all want our teams to win every trade and from time to time we all overvalue (or undervalue) certain players.

Once in a while, though, we can look back and laugh about what we thought then

 

[TheBeard]

Word is he's meeting with Edmonton.

 

[lakeshirts37]

Even with a prorated contract this season and a new contract next year - he’s forfeiting millions. Interesting choice but good for him.

 

[GKJ]

That guy is going to walk away from the money next year?

 

[HolyGhost]

People always say this, but it is all dependent on their lifestyle and financial decisions. We hear about broke professional athletes all the time.

At this point in time of his career, if he is going to go broke when his career is over. he is going to go broke anyway. Has made about $50mill in his career or about $25mill after taxes

 

[CanMerc]

If he’s willing to sign cheap enough, I could see the Jets interested…veteran bottom 6 winger depth for the playoffs would be nice

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Kings could use him he still can score goals

 

[Mike Liut]

He did the Blues a huge favor and that was very cool of him. It opens up 4M of cap space in 2026. I hope he signs on with a playoff team and does well. He’s still a quality player at times and might get rejuvenated on a playoff team.

 

[KevinRedkey]

At his current rate, he was going to play in the AHL and would be unlikely to get another shot in the NHL. With this decision, he may be extending his NHL career beyond next year, thus increasing his career earnings by the time he retires.

If he isn't cooked - it may very well be a good decision both for his game and wallet (in the long run).

 

[5 14 6 1]

The most obvious Oiler.

 

[5 14 6 1]

Gotta think he's gonna regret that one in 5-10 years... that's a lot of money out the window.

Not if ends up with another cup ring instead of AHL bus tickets

 

[Canovin]

He’s only 32. He could make that 5M back

 

[HolyGhost]

Word is he's meeting with Edmonton.

Oilers do not have any room. Unless they can dump Skinner