|
|
Bloggers 
My HockeyBuzz
 Hockeybuzz on Versus
Cap Central
Fantasy
Forums
Store
Chat
RSS
|
Season Ticket Login Free Registration! |
Get free daily email updates from Eklund with the latest rumors. Register for free today!
 |
 |
|
Carolina Hurricanes Blogger •
As noted by a couple people on the previous blog and reported by TSN, Erik Cole has been resigned to a 2-year deal at $2.8M in 09-10 and $3.0M in 10-11.
My quick thoughts:
-The price is on the high end of the range. The downside on Cole when he does not score is that he is a very good 2-way, physical checking line forward with some ability to score. I say $1.5M is the low end of the range for a veteran 3rd-liner and Cole is a notch above this. This suggests a salary in the $2-2.5M range.
So at $2M, I think he would have been a bargain. At $2.5M, I think he would have been a decent deal with minimal downside. At closer to $3M, you expect 20-25 goals and 50-55 points to go with the (big, physical, 2-way, fast/decent forechecker) non-stat-sheet stuff.
-The term is okay at 2 years. Realistically you were not going to get a UFA at his age to take a 1-year deal, and his style of play, wear and tear miles and age make 3 years a little risky.
-Might the fact that Rutherford seemed to lean to the high end of the range to keep 1 fan favorite mean that he thinks Larose is out of reach?
-Perhaps the best comparable right now is Mike Knuble and I would not be surprised if his price helped benchmark this deal. Knuble is the same big body for right wing who is not the young stud but has proven capable of holding down right wing on a scoring line. Knuble brings more in terms of scoring and hands, but Cole brings more in terms of speed, physical play and defense at this point in their careers. Both got 2 years for about the same $.
I go back and forth on whether I like this signing. We did not seem to get the hometown discount with Cole coming off a stats-low 08-09, but you get a known quantity in the locker room who has chemistry and brings something even if he does not have the perfect skill set for Staal's right wing. I guess I feel better about this deal if Gionta turns out to be way too expensive and if Larose gets some crazy bid that Rutherford rightly passed on.
Go Canes!
My quick thoughts:
-The price is on the high end of the range. The downside on Cole when he does not score is that he is a very good 2-way, physical checking line forward with some ability to score. I say $1.5M is the low end of the range for a veteran 3rd-liner and Cole is a notch above this. This suggests a salary in the $2-2.5M range.
So at $2M, I think he would have been a bargain. At $2.5M, I think he would have been a decent deal with minimal downside. At closer to $3M, you expect 20-25 goals and 50-55 points to go with the (big, physical, 2-way, fast/decent forechecker) non-stat-sheet stuff.
-The term is okay at 2 years. Realistically you were not going to get a UFA at his age to take a 1-year deal, and his style of play, wear and tear miles and age make 3 years a little risky.
-Might the fact that Rutherford seemed to lean to the high end of the range to keep 1 fan favorite mean that he thinks Larose is out of reach?
-Perhaps the best comparable right now is Mike Knuble and I would not be surprised if his price helped benchmark this deal. Knuble is the same big body for right wing who is not the young stud but has proven capable of holding down right wing on a scoring line. Knuble brings more in terms of scoring and hands, but Cole brings more in terms of speed, physical play and defense at this point in their careers. Both got 2 years for about the same $.
I go back and forth on whether I like this signing. We did not seem to get the hometown discount with Cole coming off a stats-low 08-09, but you get a known quantity in the locker room who has chemistry and brings something even if he does not have the perfect skill set for Staal's right wing. I guess I feel better about this deal if Gionta turns out to be way too expensive and if Larose gets some crazy bid that Rutherford rightly passed on.
Go Canes!
Join the Discussion:  |
 |