age can't be seen as such a major sticking point when guys like Nabby, Jags, Lidstrom have all recently proven that age isn't everything. He wont be faced with much defensive minutes. If they use him as he should be he will be resonsible for putting pucks on net and generating rebounds. He won't be a guy that carries the team, but will be effective in areas Dallas needs to improve on, mainly the pp and generating offense from the backend which is thin after Gologoski (sp?)
- Jay Uller

Nabokov - 1 year $2.8M
Jagr - 1 year $4.5M
Lidstrom - 38 when he signed his 2 year, was still playing full seasons. And, oh yeah, arguably the best Dman in the history of the NHL. And signed one year contracts after that as well.

well since your the self proclaimed expert on the stars; 'stop gaps' don't need to be paid 5 million a year.

and buddy didn't say he was terrible, he said chances are he wont be playing 82 games a year or close. seems like a lot to pay an oft injured 39 year old
- hugefemale dog77

Again, if you know anything about the Stars, his age and salary are irrelevant. His cap hit will not hinder the team in any way, shape, or form the next two seasons and he was playing 24 minutes a night in the playoffs for this years eventual Jack Adams award winner.

I will say it one last time, his salary is irrelevant. He's not overpaid. He's the highest scoring Russian dman in NHL history and he's the active leading scorer for NHL dmen. I'm stoked he was added early for a 6th rounder.

Yes I was being sarcastic.. but do you actually think he's going to stay an Oiler after MacT threw him under the bus? I can't see it.
- Jodes

good good.

i dunno. mact is no dbag and he's always been a fan of horcoff.. im sure they've spoken and this came up. i really don't think he threw him under the bus per se.

i honestly wouldn't be that shocked to see him in oiler silks again next year

So, you wouldn't pay a 26 year old Norris finalist $7m, but you'll pay a 39 year old broken down dman $5M?

If you knew anything about.... well, anything.... you would know that's pretty stupid.
- Dirte

Ok

Small sample size. Not even close to indicative of his overall game.
- eichiefs9

Why are you all so butt hurt? The question was if he was worth 7 million. I don't think he's worth that much. What is the issue?

I never said let him walk for nothing, I didn't say he sucked. If he wants 7 million dollars, he needs to play better in games that matter as far as I'm concerned.

5.5-6 million at best. I'm a Flyers/Stars fan, I've seen Letang play plenty.

So, you wouldn't pay a 26 year old Norris finalist $7m, but you'll pay a 39 year old broken down dman $5M?

If you knew anything about.... well, anything.... you would know that's pretty stupid.
- Dirte

He's still terrible at playing d though.. You can't really get around that. I hate how the league only acknowledges offensive d's nowadays. Karlsson with a Norris and letang getting a nomination. Might as well give Justin Schultz the award in a few years

Again, if you know anything about the Stars, his age and salary are irrelevant. His cap hit will not hinder the team in any way, shape, or form the next two seasons and he was playing 24 minutes a night in the playoffs for this years eventual Jack Adams award winner.

I will say it one last time, his salary is irrelevant. He's not overpaid. He's the highest scoring Russian dman in NHL history and he's the active leading scorer for NHL dmen. I'm stoked he was added early for a 6th rounder.
- mochoson

well im glad you're stoked on the signing.
but im not sure if a 5mil cap hit is ever irrelevant. especially for an oft injured 39 year old. all time leading Russian scoring dman or not.
i certainly think you overpaid and got jobbed on the term.
didn't lidstrom only sign for 1 year??

Why are you all so butt hurt? The question was if he was worth 7 million. I don't think he's worth that much. What is the issue?

I never said let him walk for nothing, I didn't say he sucked. If he wants 7 million dollars, he needs to play better in games that matter as far as I'm concerned.

5.5-6 million at best. I'm a Flyers/Stars fan, I've seen Letang play plenty.
- mochoson

Dude, if Gonchar's getting 5m than Letang is easily getting 7m...I think that's the issue being discussed here...

Nabokov - 1 year $2.8M
Jagr - 1 year $4.5M
Lidstrom - 38 when he signed his 2 year, was still playing full seasons. And, oh yeah, arguably the best Dman in the history of the NHL. And signed one year contracts after that as well.
- Dirte

You avoided pretty much my entire point...

Why are you all so butt hurt? The question was if he was worth 7 million. I don't think he's worth that much. What is the issue?

I never said let him walk for nothing, I didn't say he sucked. If he wants 7 million dollars, he needs to play better in games that matter as far as I'm concerned.

5.5-6 million at best. I'm a Flyers/Stars fan, I've seen Letang play plenty.
- mochoson

you're completely ok with paying gonchar 5, and think letang is only worth half a million more??

Why are you all so butt hurt? The question was if he was worth 7 million. I don't think he's worth that much. What is the issue?

I never said let him walk for nothing, I didn't say he sucked. If he wants 7 million dollars, he needs to play better in games that matter as far as I'm concerned.

5.5-6 million at best. I'm a Flyers/Stars fan, I've seen Letang play plenty.
- mochoson

You don't think Letang is worth $7M, but you think Gonchar is worth $5M?

You get that Letang is leaps and bounds better than Gonchar, and that gap should only widen considerably over the next few years, as Letang comes into his prime and Gonchar breaks down even further, right?

well im glad you're stoked on the signing.
but im not sure if a 5mil cap hit is ever irrelevant. especially for an oft injured 39 year old. all time leading Russian scoring dman or not.
i certainly think you overpaid and got jobbed on the term.
didn't lidstrom only sign for 1 year??
- hugefemale dog77

What does overpaying for a need mean to a team who doesn't spend to the cap?

Nothing.

You avoided pretty much my entire point...
- Jay Uller

Not really. You're saying players can occasionally play to that late an age. But they rarely do, and are pretty done for by then. The players you mention may have still been playing, but no one was signing them for multi-year deals, because making a committment like that to a player on his last legs is a bad idea.

The odds of it being a good signing are slim to none.

What does overpaying for a need mean to a team who doesn't spend to the cap?

Nothing.
- mochoson

It screws the rest of the teams by driving up prices on players they wish to sign...I hate this damn salary cap floor sh*t...

Dude, if Gonchar's getting 5m than Letang is easily getting 7m...I think that's the issue being discussed here...
- Flyfreaky

Well Gonchar has more career goals than Letang has points, How much of Letangs points are Crosby and Malkin directly responsible for? He is a good player, but everybody thought Kaberle was too for his point production largely based on secondary assists.

Yes we all get your new cba joke but careful, legally you said anyone and I wouldn't put anything past khl and malkin
- Tuner

$15 million tax free dollars was the offer.

Not really. You're saying players can occasionally play to that late an age. But they rarely do, and are pretty done for by then. The players you mention may have still been playing, but no one was signing them for multi-year deals, because making a committment like that to a player on his last legs is a bad idea.

The odds of it being a good signing are slim to none.
- Dirte

Really my isolated minutes and responsibilities comments which was a bulk of my post meant nothing? Is that you UG?

Gonchar was pretty old this year you know, kept up with a lot of guys that are much younger

You don't think Letang is worth $7M, but you think Gonchar is worth $5M?

You get that Letang is leaps and bounds better than Gonchar, and that gap should only widen considerably over the next few years, as Letang comes into his prime and Gonchar breaks down even further, right?
- Dirte

Gonchar is a stop gap defender who's probably getting at least .5 if not an entire mill more than he should on a short deal because it adressss a need on a team that doesn't spend to the cap during an abysmal summer of FA's

Letang is not worth 7 million dollars to me on a long term deal. It obviously depends on the term. You can disagree if you want, you may hold Letang in a higher regard than I. I don't really care, these are just opinions.

He's still terrible at playing d though.. You can't really get around that. I hate how the league only acknowledges offensive d's nowadays. Karlsson with a Norris and letang getting a nomination. Might as well give Justin Schultz the award in a few years
- selanne4pres

Really? Because the guy played plenty of PK, in a PILE of ice time, had VERY few goals scored against while he was on the ice. Second on the Pens in blocked shots. I've watched him play plenty, and he's actually pretty decent defensively, as far as I'm concerned.

Well Gonchar has more career goals than Letang has points, How much of Letangs points are Crosby and Malkin directly responsible for? He is a good player, but everybody thought Kaberle was too for his point production largely based on secondary assists.
- Jay Uller

Gonchar's pretty much done and the Stars are just gonna hand out tons of money to get to the (frank)ing floor...It's gonna mess up the scale once again...If Gonchar gets 5 then Legtang's gonna want 7...

It screws the rest of the teams by driving up prices on players they wish to sign...I hate this damn salary cap floor sh*t...
- Flyfreaky

Gonchar is the active leading scored for dmen, he has leverage in his negotiations no other player has. It doesn't effect the market the way you think it does.

Really my isolated minutes and responsibilities comments which was a bulk of my post meant nothing? Is that you UG?
- Jay Uller

No, it doesn't really mean anything to me, because as a 39 year old, he shouldn't really be COUNTED on doing anything, particularly with his spotty track record of health in the recent past, especially for 2 years.

Really? Because the guy played plenty of PK, in a PILE of ice time, had VERY few goals scored against while he was on the ice. Second on the Pens in blocked shots. I've watched him play plenty, and he's actually pretty decent defensively, as far as I'm concerned.
- Dirte

He's way better than people give him credit for, but he's still an average defender. His bread and butter is offense.

What does overpaying for a need mean to a team who doesn't spend to the cap?

Nothing.
- mochoson

In that case, wouldn't you think Letang is worth at least $7M or $8M to the Stars, given that you don't care about overpaying? Not the $5.5 you talk about? Hell, since it doesn't matter, I bet you could have gotten Letang for $20M over 2 years.

Gonchar is the active leading scored for dmen, he has leverage in his negotiations no other player has. It doesn't effect the market the way you think it does.
- mochoson

You can't rest on past laurels and we all pretty much know that he's not the player he once was and that Dallas has to spend a boat load of money...This signing was the perfect storm to screw up teams looking to sign other dmen with more talent and upside...