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The Worst Moves of the Off-Season |
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Thought today that we would look at the worst moves this summer. As this article doesn't come with an abstract or bibliography, isn't peer reviewed, and most certainly will not be featured in Psychology Today, keep in mind it is just one guy's opinion.
There were lot's of bad moves this summer. In fact, were one so inclined, they could just randomly select just about anybody who signed a contract on July 1st and call it an overpayment and they would probably be correct. It's pretty obvious Brooks Orpik's contract is the worst thing to every happen to a league with six (apparently pointless) lockouts in the last ten years, so I won't talk about that - I'll try to keep it somewhat outside the obvious.
1. Columbus playing hardball with Ryan Johansen
As you can read about here if you want http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Todd-Cordell/Three-Million-Apart/178/61776 my esteemed colleague Dan Marino Todd Cordell wrote about how the team and player remain 3 million dollars apart - per season - on the contract they are trying to work out. He suggests the team and player will ultimately sign a 2 year contract, splitting the difference, so about 4.5 Million/ for 2 years.
Seems realistic, but ultra stupid, if you want my opinion. Johansen is 6'3 220lbs and possesses a rare skill set for anyone that big - basically he's a scout's fantasy. He just broke out for 33 goals and 63 points during his age 22 season.
I get the theory of the "bridge contract" - from the team's perspective you don't want to commit term and $ to a player who may only have had a fluke season; you want to see him repeat it before you commit. For the player, you don't want to leave money on the table if you can help it.
Still, it's not a good theory, unless you're doubtful the player will repeat. If you are doubtful, then shut up and trade him at the peak of his value. I don't think Ryan Johansen is a fluke. He's a #1 centre at 22 and with his size and skill combo, the only thing that will prevent him from repeating and improving on is breakout season is injury, which is why you buy insurance.
If the Blue Jackets are serious about being a real team and remaining a viable long term franchise and not becoming the Panthers of the North, they need to sign their franchise player to a long term deal.
Long term deals work best for both parties. Sure, the player might leave some cash on the table, but who cares? There is literally no difference to your life between signing for 60 Million or 70 Million. At that point, it's a joke anyways - You and the next ten generations of your family are loaded.
For the team, they get to save some cash too. Because, trust me, if they sign Johansen to a 2 year deal and he repeats last years outcome two more times, and then you factor in inflation, they're going to end up paying him $9/10 million on an average cap hit. Where as, if they sign him this summer, then they could probably get it done for $6/7. They oughta ask the Canadiens what they think of bridge contracts - because Montreal certainly could have saved money and cap space if they didn't screw around with PK Subban so much over the last couple of years.
This is dumb. They should not be playing hard ball with their best player, and they should not be negotiating a 2 year deal. Columbus should learn from the Subban negotiations and sign Johansen long term.
#2 NYI Signing Kulemin and Grabovski.
Not that these two guys aren't decent players, but by committing $9.2 million over the next four years for these two guys, the Islanders have just added another hilarious chapter to their contract negotiation history that already includes Alexei Yashin and Rick Dipietro. (To whom the Islanders will cut checks of a combined nearly $4 Million this season)
I don't mind signing either player, but consider what their ex-team, the Leafs, got in comparative value this summer: Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnick, David Booth, Peter Kontiola, Matt Frattin and Leo Komarov. That is six players for a combined $9 million.
Leo Komarov alone is superior in nearly every way to Nicolai Kulemin, and I am pretty sure that those other five players can combine for more than Grabovski is going to provide the Islanders, and that is why their signing is the second worst move a team made this summer (non-Brooks Orpik division).
#3 Canucks sign Ryan Miler to 3 years, $18 Million contract.
I almost put this at number one because it's so excruciatingly stupid. I understand it, because the Canucks still want to hold onto the illusion that they can win with the Sedins. I get it: they are the best players in franchise history, they are synonymous with the team etc.
However, the Canucks should really look to the Flames and Leafs as examples of what not to do in the waning years of your franchise player's career. Both those teams held on to Sundin and Igninla long after the hope of winning with them was realistic and both teams have since sucked for years. The Canucks are heading down the exact path.
If they were smart, they would have dealt both Sedins and rebuilt around Lack and Markstrom in net, and see what those guys are made of. Instead, they mistakenly think paying a 34 year old goalie is going to get them to the playoffs and what they are really doing is shooting themselves in the foot. Miller, at this point, isn't worth the money. No goalie really is. The Hawks, Sharks and Wings - and the Blues even, before they forget for a while and overpaid for Miller - know that having an "elite" goalie is overrated and that that anybody capable of making the NHL is capable of being an "elite" goalie for a single year.
Look, good goaltending wins hockey games, the problem is, you never know who will be a good goalie. Mostly, I feel, it's situational. Miller probably would have been great on the Blues for the upcoming season because the Blues will be a great team and any goalie they start will get 40 wins. Miller in Vancouver will be a disaster because they are going to be one of the NHL's worst teams this year.
Vancouver has 2 young goalies who may or may/not develop. I mean, it's pretty ridiculous to call Markstrom a bust after playing on the God-awful Panthers his whole career, especially knowing what we know about how team-dependent goalies are. The Canucks should have stuck it out with him and Lack, saved the six mil and traded the Sedins.
There you have the 3 worst moves that happened in the NHL this summer.
Thanks for reading.
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