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Today will be the start of looking who is getting hurt the most by this lockout.



Vancouver- Mason Raymond
When Mason Raymond was signed this past summer the general response was WOW! I don't think I haven't found one person yet who feels that he is worth the 2.275 million that he signed for is a good deal, but that was what Gillis had to pay him or watch him walk. Fast forward to this season and you still will find Canucks fans who believe in Raymond (myself included). But without a season this year, Raymond will be going into free agency with not much to brag about over the past three years. Because of this, I would imagine Raymond will be lucky to land a deal in the neighbourhood of a million per.

Going by that, this lockout is costing Raymond money this year and next because there is no season for him to show if he's a 10-15 goal guy or a 25 goal guy. I'd say he's in line to lose at least 3 million and maybe more if he misses out on another NHL deal.


Calgary- Mikael Backlund
This may surprise some people but I really feel like this coming season could have been a coming out party for Backlund. He was in line to at least have a shot at playing in the top 6 and while I don't think he's ever going to be a star, I think he could have put up 50ish points. 50 points as an RFA could have got him paid in the area of 2-3 million, but now he will be waiting around next season and likely re-signing for around 750K (roughly the same as this year).

Going by that, I would say this lockout is costing Backlund in the area of 2-2.5 million in salary this year and next.


Edmonton- Ladislav Smid
Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows I'm a huge fan of Smid, so because of that, I'll warn you now that I may overvalue him. Next year's crop of free agent D is what I'd call ok. In my books, Smid is the second or third best of the group. If Matt Carle can get 5+ million then Smid can as well.

But that was all before the lockout. Without a season, I believe Smid will fade into the background with a lot of the other UFAs because he is not a flashy player. Next July, when GMs are tossing out money, my guess is they won't necessarily be looking for "steady". I'd still be willing to go 4.5 on him, but I'm guessing he could have got 5-6 million if he had a season this year like he did last.

Going by that, I would say this lockout is him 2.25 million this year and about a million per season when he finally signs a new deal. Conservatively, I'd say this lockout is costing Smid 5 million dollars


Minnesota- Pierre-Marc Bouchard
It wouldn't shock me if Bouchard is hurt right now and getting paid, but if he isn't, he's standing to lose 4.3 million this season. As much as I like Bouchard, because of his health concerns, I think I can safely assume that he will be hard pressed to land a 4.3 million dollar a year deal again.

Bouchard has played 97 games the past three years and even though he has 60 points, with his health concerns I think he will be lucky to land a long-term deal. He will likely be offered in the area of 2 million per for one-to-two years. If he had a healthy season with Parise, I think he would be in line for a 3-5 year deal somewhere, worth in the ballpark of 4 million per.

Going by that, I would say this lockout is him 4.3 million this year and about two million per season when he finally signs a new deal. And that deal will likely be a lot shorter than if he was coming off a healthy, productive year.


Colorado- Milan Hejduk
I'd really hate to see Hejduk's career come to an end without him doing it on the ice. That alone, is why I say he will lose a lot this season. I realistically see one of the younger guys taking his spot next year and cannot really see the Avs signing him past this year.

Hejduk stand to lose 2 million in salary this year, but I think the bigger loss is that one of the all-time great Avs doesn't get to really say good-bye.


Who do you think is standing to lose because of this lockout?



That’s a wrap

Ian

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