Peeri
Registered User
Right, Gaudreau who is 29 in a month. According to you is also going to be a flop. That's how FA works, you have to pay premium to get the prize.
Speculation: Winners and Losers now that the dust has settled
- Thread starter Jumptheshark
- Start date
Wanderson
Registered User
- Aug 1, 2011
- 4,365
- 1,920
Despite doing absolutely nothing, the Isles are one of the losers. They desperately need to add a goal scorer and now they have to trade for one. Not upset about Gaudreau signing somewhere else, you can never expect the best UFAs. I’m upset because they missed out on Pacioretty for free and now they will have to pay premium for a player of his calibre.
Gilles Meloche
I Moe I Moe
I thought Carolina made some nice trades and signings
TommyDangles
Registered User
- Jun 18, 2021
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Yea Trocheck just had 115 points and is one of the best players in the league
Gaudreau isn't the type of player I'm talking about. It's the 28-31 year old average / slightly above average player that gets huge term. It's the Kyle Okposo, Andrew Ladd, Loui Eriksson, James Neal, Milan Lucic, Jaden Schwartz, and Ondrej Palat.
"That's how FA works, you have to pay premium to get the prize."
He's not the prize. These contracts always age terribly. Every year it's the same thing. Fans cope and say it's different with this guy and they're thinking of ways to get rid of the contract in 2-3 years.
Not giving out contracts like that is the smart move. Cap flexibility is always the most important thing.
Bourne Endeavor
Registered User
Winners
Ottawa - This was the Pierre Dorion redemption arc. In one fell swoop, he completely changed the direction of the Sens and actually made them a relevant threat after seemingly years of being in a tailspin. I have to wonder if this was Dorion showing what he can do without Melnyk around or just a fluke. Nevertheless, it's nice seeing another Canadian team climbing the mountain.
Edmonton - A sleeper hit. Bringing in Campbell was telegraphed a mile away but being able to convince Kane to stick around, especially at the contract he inked, is incredible for them. They have some young talent coming up and finally have a top six worthy of McDavid and Draisaitl's talent.
Columbus - They were fashionably late but what an arrival. After that... questionable Gudbranson deal, sneaking in at the final hour to nab Johnny hockey is phenomenal. Have to be honest, I have no idea why he opted for Columbus but I do love seeing that fanbase get a long deserved win. Y'all have been suffering, and it's good to see the narrative of nobody wanting to play in Ohio changing. I also think Gaudreau will do wonders in bringing out more of Laine.
Honorable Mentions:
Carolina - They essentially added a middle pair defenseman and a 35-40 goal scorer for nothing.
Colorado - Quiet on the impact signings so far but extending Lehkonen, Manson and Nichushkin solidifies their fantastic depth. If Kadri does end up back there, they're posed for another juggernaut season.
Losers
Vegas - I don't think Gretzky's infamous "Mickey Mouse organization" has ever so aptly fit a team before. All the money in the world as a fresh expansion team and they've blown it like a drunken gambler. I suppose that is the theme in Vegas. It just mysteries me how a team can so consistently and comically mess up their cap they're literally giving players away. And not just throwaway fourth liners but the previous Vezina winner and a 40 goal scorer. At the same time, I equally wouldn't be shocked if we here they signed Kadri to so absurd contract because that's just Vegas, baby.
Calgary - Hate to say it, however with the departure of Gaudreau, the Flames are simply done. Losing arguably their best player for nothing is brutal. Such are the dangers of going into the season without them signed. Unfortunately, it may well happen again with Tkachuk who, supposedly, was considering his options if Gaudreau left. I feel for their fanbase given how much the Flames have underachieved over the last few years. I just don't know where they go from here.
Philadelphia - Bit of an odd one. They technically didn't do anything yet missed out on every single one of their targets this free agency. Which may be even worse due to Fletcher's insistence on willing a playoff team into existence on little more than a hope and prayer. After dumping assets on DeAngelo and having so many bloated contracts, they really couldn't afford to be left at the alter.
Honorable Mentions:
New Jersey - Can't say I love Palat's contract. It kind of feels like an immediate desperation move after losing out on Gaudreau. They're in good shape overall but yesterday hurt just a bit.
Last edited:
Maurice of Orange
13:21 🏒🏒
- Feb 5, 2016
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Gabrielor
Registered User
Boom Boom Apathy
I am the Professor. Deal with it!
- Sep 6, 2006
- 49,326
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The AAV is nice which is most important to NYR. The term is long, but after 3 seasons, his NMC goes to a M-NTC and the real cost drops into the $4M range for the last couple of years.
Rangers likely won’t have any problems moving him after 4 years if his play drops off, even if they need to pay someone a little to take it.
Rangers view that their window is now. They’ll worry about the cap consequences his contract 5-7 years from now.
BB88
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2015
- 41,468
- 21,852
But they lost Trocheck, DeAngelo and maybe even Nino.
So while they added 2 great pieces(potentially) they lost some key contributers
Spearmint Rhino
Registered User
- Sep 17, 2013
- 9,329
- 9,348
Personally I don’t think Gaudreau will be worth his contract in 3 years and if Gudbranson is tied to him he’s not worth it now
StickShift
In a pickle 🥒
Winners are fans in the East. I think the conference is going to be WIDE open next season and there's a bunch of teams saying "Why not us?" that will make the race to get a playoff spot an absolute war each night.
Doesn't mean it works out. I can think of many many many late 20s FAs signed to long term contracts that start looking bad a few years in, and even more that look bad in the 5th and 6th year.
It's a risk. Some teams feel it's worth it, but let's not pretend these contracts often work out in the end.
- May 22, 2008
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Winners:
* Columbus (landing the top UFA is huge for that market)
* Devils (Palat is a better fit for them than Gaudreau)
* Ottawa (that offense is looking nasty with Debrincat and Giroux)
Losers:
* Flyers (I mean do I have to explain?)
* Flames (sorry, Flames fans)
* Toronto (lots of question marks still)
* Columbus (landing the top UFA is huge for that market)
* Devils (Palat is a better fit for them than Gaudreau)
* Ottawa (that offense is looking nasty with Debrincat and Giroux)
Losers:
* Flyers (I mean do I have to explain?)
* Flames (sorry, Flames fans)
* Toronto (lots of question marks still)
Djp
Registered User
how on the Rangers? Trocheck was one of the worst contracts
Maurice of Orange
13:21 🏒🏒
- Feb 5, 2016
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They did get Comrie from Winnipeg, to probably take the lions share of starts from Anderson.
Got Clague as well, could have been worse.
Fire Sweeney
Registered User
Detroit are definite losers. Chariot and Matta are trash, Perron is a punk
Djp
Registered User
i agree it’s a big risk. My big concern are the 32+yrs. Even with the star players, most don’t justify the amount of cap hit They have.
So Trocheck is better than Strome+Copp
Pretty easy here .
Winners
Edmonton
Ottawa
Columbus
Carolina
Stayed par
Colorado
Tampa
Toronto
NyR
Losers
Calgary
Philadelphia
NYI
Pretenders
Pittsburgh
Boston
Winners
Edmonton
Ottawa
Columbus
Carolina
Stayed par
Colorado
Tampa
Toronto
NyR
Losers
Calgary
Philadelphia
NYI
Pretenders
Pittsburgh
Boston
Winners:
Ottawa really going for it. Their offseason has been pretty good. I dont think they have the goaltending to finish top 3 in the division tho. They will score some goals tho.
Carolina got a 30 goal scorer for free. Thanks vegas they werent good enough already.
Columbus just by signing JG is a pretty big deal. I dont know what they are gonna do around him, but its a good start
Losers:
Detroit paying Chariot that contract is terrible. Hes a bottom pairing D at best they think is gonna play with Seider? Ouch. Maata is ok. Perron not terrible. Husso died down the stretch last year and they gave him almost $5M a year. Copp is a middle 6 winger but they paid him like a legit 2nd line center that can consistently produce. Hes a good player but the contract is iffy
Vegas - giving away Patches to keep worse players. Good luck
Flames - lost JG. ouch. If that causes them to lose Chucky 1 and done double ouch
Toronto - i mean maybe not UFA wise but they managed to downgrade in net while also paying more at the same time. All hail king Dubas
Anyone who signed a player 30+ to a 5+ year deal.
Ottawa really going for it. Their offseason has been pretty good. I dont think they have the goaltending to finish top 3 in the division tho. They will score some goals tho.
Carolina got a 30 goal scorer for free. Thanks vegas they werent good enough already.
Columbus just by signing JG is a pretty big deal. I dont know what they are gonna do around him, but its a good start
Losers:
Detroit paying Chariot that contract is terrible. Hes a bottom pairing D at best they think is gonna play with Seider? Ouch. Maata is ok. Perron not terrible. Husso died down the stretch last year and they gave him almost $5M a year. Copp is a middle 6 winger but they paid him like a legit 2nd line center that can consistently produce. Hes a good player but the contract is iffy
Vegas - giving away Patches to keep worse players. Good luck
Flames - lost JG. ouch. If that causes them to lose Chucky 1 and done double ouch
Toronto - i mean maybe not UFA wise but they managed to downgrade in net while also paying more at the same time. All hail king Dubas
Anyone who signed a player 30+ to a 5+ year deal.
The Red Line
Registered User
- Oct 11, 2010
- 8,600
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Not sure how you can actually say that. They didn't improve in an any area, and lost key players at almost every position. If Kadri doesn't re-sign then on paper they've actually gotten significantly worse than last year by losing Burakovsky, Kadry, and Kuemper, and not bringing in anyone better to replace them. That's the definition of getting worse, not improving.
SirKillalot
Registered User
Really? They-resigned all of their better players to good contracts and secured their core for a long time.
Cole and Namestnikov in.
I am not agree for Tampa. For me Tampa
Cirelli extension ok
Sergachev too much
Cernak too muck
and overpay Cole
If Bogosian and cirelli are ready to start the season Tampa will have 400k over the cap for me is more looser than ok.
Atomos2
Registered User
Guess some people need a refresher on how term works. Murray’s contract is up right when Matthews and Nylander will need a payday.
If we paid Campbell that’s 5M tied up all through Matthews, Marner and Nylander’s pay raise years.
