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Defending the Defenders... ....On Doughty, Schenn and Bogosian to Montreal? |
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What's the Buzz?
1. Do players hate playing in LA?
2. Is Doughty worth Weber money?
3. Is a Doughty contract that would make him a UFA at 26,27 a good idea?
4. Is Luke Schenn's issue almost resolved?
5. Are the Stamkos side deal rumors true?
6. Could Bogosian (or Oduya) be coming to Montreal for Gomez +?
Find out the buzz...now.
It's hard to argue that this summer has been the summer of defensemen...and it's also interesting how in summer's past by the first week of August we were generally talking about a few forwards who were left to sign deals...This summer it's the defensemen.
Last week's arbitration award to Shea Weber of 7.5 combined with the Stamkos contract has really, in a way, screwed with past paradigms and if not helped to keep Doughty, Schenn, and Bogosian UFAs, it sure hasn't hurt their cause.
On Doughty...
Earlier this year I asked you all "who you would rather have Weber or Doughty?"
More of you went with Shea than Drew, but not by a whole lot. And yet, since the Weber ruling I have gotten a strong sense that Kings fans especially are growing increasingly frustrated with Drew Doughty wanting the money. I hear people actually saying not only is Doughty not worth Weber money, he is not worth Stamkos money.
I am actually pretty shocked at this. I get Doughty's production fell off a little last year, but Doughty isn't really about production and most scouts I talked to last year said Doughty was more important to the Kings and had rounded out his game nicely last season.
Would I rather have Shea Weber? Yes. But I would rather have Drew Doughty over ANY other D-man on the planet. To me...Shea Weber is to Chris Pronger as Drew Doughty is to Ray Bourque. If I had to win one game...in their prime completely healthy...I am taking Pronger over Bourque...by the smallest of margins.. And that is where I sit with Weber and Doughty.
The game being played by the Kings with Doughty is a scary one.
Imagine this past summer that Doughty was a UFA. He would have been the most sought after UFA of all of them. So we are talking bigger than Brad Richards money. Now, of course he is and RFA, but still...
If Doughty holds out Lombardi and the Kings open up a can of worms. They are already complaining how hard it is to get players to play in LA. What with the beautiful homes on perfect beaches, the phenomenal weather and incredible fans and all...it is true...NO one wants to be a King. (Sarcasm...)
Players WANT to be LA Kings!!!!
Just because you lose out on Kovalchuk and Richards does NOT mean it's hard to get players to sign in Hollywood. The Kings and Lombardi have a right to be bitter about Kovalchuk and Richards, but not because neither wanted to play in Los Angeles. Dean can be bitter because Kovalchuk and Richards both played the Kings to get better contracts in cities they already had their heart set on.
However...make life hard on Doughty and suddenly things could be more complicated when looking at UFA's. Not because of the city, but because of a front office that doesn't see the value of Drew Doughty. This is a negotiation to be sure..but there is a right way and a wrong way to negotiate with superstars.
The right way is to look at Weber's deal...the wrong way is to look at a deal signed by Stamkos that is tenuous at best and is clearly discounted to make Stamkos a star UFA at 26 years old.
Dangerous game.
On Schenn...
Before Stamkos signed, the rumors were rampant that Luke Schenn wasn't signed yet because he could possibly be included in any deal for Stamkos.
Brian Burke is unique in his assertions at times. Burkie has been adamant that he doesn't sign players to long, long deals that tie your hands. He likes shorter deals which gives a team flexibility and more importantly holds a player accountable. He likes deals like...well the Stamkos deal... hmm....
Now I don't believe the rumors out there that Stamkos still wants out of Tampa. That while he can't sign a No Movement at his age, that he agreed to a hometown discount with a handshake of a few places he would accept a trade to. I have looked exhaustedly into these rumors and not been able to get a single person I trust to confirm them. I have heard these rumors discussed by some NHL people, some players...but quite simply such an agreement couldn't exist in the new CBA.
I love Luke Schenn. To me, Schenn's upside is that of Adam Foote at his absolute best. Luke Schenn has "Captain" written all over him. He is the kind of player you can envision lifting a Cup above his head. You can go to war with both the Schenn kids with zero hesitance... There will come a day, in the next five years, when the brothers Schenn will faceoff against each other in a Leafs/Flyers game both wearing the C.
I keep hearing about a "holdup" in the Schenn talks, but this morning I also heard that "The Leafs and Schenn are very close to resolving this "issue" and moving forward. It is sounding very positive that we will get news on Schenn and the leafs in the next few days.
On Bogosian...
I am chasing down an interesting rumor regarding "a Jets defenseman going to Montreal for a package including a top Hab's prospect and Gomez." Gomez, who would be continuing his slow and steady geographical return to Alaska in such a deal, could be an ideal fit for Winnipeg...
As a caveat here, I have heard three sources claim that Bogosian would be the defender leaving Winnipeg, but I have one other source who feels strongly the player going the other way would be Oduya.
more to come....
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