Callahan isn't even a third liner on our team. What is this third liner crap. He gets the third most ice time amongst forwards on our team without significant powerplay time. It's fine if you don't has a sentimental attachment to Callahan like some of us admittedly do, but seriously, there's no need to exaggerate to the point of insulting a player's value to a team.
Yeah, the line we draw between so called 2nd lineers and 3rd lineers is just confusing.
I just don't think its telling in any way. It tells some kind of order you hit the ice 5 on 5. That might impact a minute or two per game. Besides that you have PK, PP, shifts when you defend a lead, shift when you want to score, shifts when your coach want momentum etc etc etc.
Looking at Callahan's ice time he got from 15 to 21 minutes a game during January, with hitting around 18 on most nights. That is probably more than Zucc during that time frame, and his avg might even challenge Nash.
Slats must just be smart with Callahan. Sit down and figure out what they can expect from him and if that is worth it. Consider if they will be able to move him. Consider the worst case scenario, as well as up-side. Consider what trade options they have.
From my point of view, that trade option must entail more than what is rumored if put against the following (potential) contract:
Term/Salary/Cap estimate (projected numbers and after that I only calculate on the PA bumper with zero growth)
Y1 / 8m / 71m
Y2 / 8m / 80m
Y3 / 8m / 84m
Y4 / 6.5m / 88.2m
Y5 / 5.5m / 92.61m
Y6 / 4m / 97.24m
Y7 / 4m / 102.1m
Y8 / 4m / 107.2m
AAV of 6m.
LTC of like 20 teams.
With the cap exploding, "most" teams litterary will be budget teams. I don't know if it will be 16 or 20, but it will be many. Ie salary matters not cap. Caphit might even be a positive.
4m in a 100m capworld is like paying someone
2.52m today. I mean, Detroit just signed Mikael Samuelsson to a 3m deal. Samuelsson is 37 y/o. Callahan will be 34 y/o when the cap hit 100m.
Ie, I just see the following likely scenarios:
1. Callahan does not break down completely for us, and ends up being paid like a solid 16-18 minute vet on a good deal for the entire duration of the contract.
2. Callahan is always moveable for us. Probably for a better return we could get today.
3. Callahan breaks down and goes on LTIR, only bugs us if we get several players on LTIR at the same time (like with Redden and Drury).
Then you have 4 that I just don't think is likely at all:
4. Callahan breaks down completely, but does not want to go on LTIR but want to sit around in the pressbox instead of collecting his money at home while not being able to play the game at a "2.52m" pace.