everything I've heard/read is saying long term and well over $5M...
- Big_Lightnin

What we hear is usually BS

We also heard Bozak wanted max contract term. Its all agents negotiating through the media. I dont believe most of it.

Everyone is going to get over paid and signed for too long tomorrow.
- systemtool

i could use a new job .... what do u think i can get ?

i could use a new job .... what do u think i can get ?
- The_Vark

A paper route and a street corner.

I think that if Clarkson gets less than 5, he'll want at least 5 years.
- Leeman4Gilmour

5 years 25 mill. 29 years old, and already old man strong.

This generations Gary Roberts.

i don't think it's an improvement at all. it would be a side step, a fresh face at best.

offensively, their numbers have been fairly similar, and it's not like grabovski put up those numbers with allstar wingers either.

not much about their games after that is different. big step down in heart.

if weiss is a #1C, so is bozak.
- joel878

I'll give you the argument on Grabo's stats... but not Bozak's.

If Weiss played in Bozak's shoes this past season he probably would have been close to PPG.

Agree he's not the ideal, but he's a significant offensive upgrade over Bozak, and Grabo wasn't going to get a shot at 1C.

Id sign Clarkson. You're free to assume 6.5 is what he'll make. I think he'll sign for about 4.5, and im okay with that for a 3yr or less term.
- systemtool

i'm not assuming, that's what the reports were saying he could command.

i respect everyone who wants clarkson for the type of player he is, it's certainly a need.. but in my opinion it's foolish to pretend clarkson is that guy.

he's a third liner, who's had 1, maybe 2 seasons that might validate him as a 2nd liner. the offense won't stay, and without it.. he's nothing that can't be bought for the third line at 2-3 million.

people are dying to hand him 35-40 million dollar contracts, which basically makes the 40-45 goals he scored to land it worth almost a million each.

I'll give you the argument on Grabo's stats... but not Bozak's.

If Weiss played in Bozak's shoes this past season he probably would have been close to PPG.

Agree he's not the ideal, but he's a significant offensive upgrade over Bozak, and Grabo wasn't going to get a shot at 1C.
- Big_Lightnin

whoever Weiss signs with, at the contract hes about to get, he should put up 20 goals and 60 pts.

I'll give you the argument on Grabo's stats... but not Bozak's.

If Weiss played in Bozak's shoes this past season he probably would have been close to PPG.

Agree he's not the ideal, but he's a significant offensive upgrade over Bozak, and Grabo wasn't going to get a shot at 1C.
- Big_Lightnin

i meant that in the sense that if playing 1st line center for a team which has no better options makes a player a 1C, than bozak is to.

weiss has historically put up 2nd line numbers in that role.

ya you guys need a center right
- The_Vark

Lavy would know better than to play him on the 4th line...

Lavy would know better than to play him on the 4th line...
- Crimsoninja

play him in goal

What we hear is usually BS

We also heard Bozak wanted max contract term. Its all agents negotiating through the media. I dont believe most of it.
- systemtool

Nonis leaked that apparently. And I don't think it's BS, I think that is exactly what the agent asked for.

(frank)ing ludicrous, but that doesn't mean he didn't ask for it.

Clarkson made $3M each of the last 2 years, and he lead Jersey in Goals, PP goals, and GWG.

He wants big money and term. How big is yet to be determined, but he's going to get a poop-ton of offers tomorrow. That fact alone means somebody will dramatically overpay him.

5 years 25 mill. 29 years old, and already old man strong.

This generations Gary Roberts.
- Leafland

Whoa

whoever Weiss signs with, at the contract hes about to get, he should put up 20 goals and 60 pts.
- Jurco_28

which is pretty much his average stat line the last 4 years (prior to this one)

i'm not assuming, that's what the reports were saying he could command.

i respect everyone who wants clarkson for the type of player he is, it's certainly a need.. but in my opinion it's foolish to pretend clarkson is that guy.

he's a third liner, who's had 1, maybe 2 seasons that might validate him as a 2nd liner. the offense won't stay, and without it.. he's nothing that can't be bought for the third line at 2-3 million.

people are dying to hand him 35-40 million dollar contracts, which basically makes the 40-45 goals he scored to land it worth almost a million each.
- joel878

Hes more than a third liner. He plays a lot of PP and top 6. Clarkson is that guy, but not worth more than 4.5 a year at the very most. One or two GMs might be dumb enough to give him 35-40 but its the exception. Especially with the Cap going down and many teams not being able to afford him.

i meant that in the sense that if playing 1st line center for a team which has no better options makes a player a 1C, than bozak is to.

weiss has historically put up 2nd line numbers in that role.
- joel878

ya and I get that... my point was Bozak put up 3rd line numbers... this year, playing with guys who put up 1st line numbers.

Kessel and JVR combined for 38 goals. Bozak only had assists. how is that even possible???

Again, Weiss is not my ideal choice, but an "ideal choice" is not available. I think he's the best option available given his age and career thus far.

Nonis leaked that apparently. And I don't think it's BS, I think that is exactly what the agent asked for.

(frank)ing ludicrous, but that doesn't mean he didn't ask for it.

Clarkson made $3M each of the last 2 years, and he lead Jersey in Goals, PP goals, and GWG.

He wants big money and term. How big is yet to be determined, but he's going to get a poop-ton of offers tomorrow. That fact alone means somebody will dramatically overpay him.
- Big_Lightnin

We shall see. Entirely possible, but again, its all posturing and I think most people will be surprised when Clarkson eventually signs. Just my opinion.

Sorry, but if the choice is between Carlyle and Grabovski, I'm going with Carlyle every time.

He's got his name on the Norris Trophy and the Stanley Cup. If Grabo can't work in his system, that's Grabo's problem.
- Leeman4Gilmour

You don't go cutting his minutes and placing him on 3rd or 4th line. To me that's dumb for someone like Grabs. Either way Carlyle blew this one.

his average production when healthy is about 25G per season 3 of the last 4 years. 2010-11 he lost the summer to rehab from broken leg.
- Big_Lightnin

this just plain isn't true.

3 in 7 games
9 in 81 games
17 in 82 games
11 in 46 games
12 in 82 games
30 in 80 games
15 in 48 games

at one point has clarkson been a 25 goal scorer when healthy. before he broke his leg he was on pace for 18.

there's zero evidence to suggest he would have even hit that this season considering after the first month of the season, grabovski outscored him.

it's absurd to give a guy that kind of money to hit and fight, when someone as average as clarke macarthur typically is more of an offensive threat

ya and I get that... my point was Bozak put up 3rd line numbers... this year, playing with guys who put up 1st line numbers.

Kessel and JVR combined for 38 goals. Bozak only had assists. how is that even possible???

Again, Weiss is not my ideal choice, but an "ideal choice" is not available. I think he's the best option available given his age and career thus far.
- Big_Lightnin

Our best option, given the ones available, was to keep Grabo..dont sign Weiss or Bozak and save our buyout for next season and see if Grabo can get back to his totals and play of the 3 seasons before this past one.

i'm not assuming, that's what the reports were saying he could command.

i respect everyone who wants clarkson for the type of player he is, it's certainly a need.. but in my opinion it's foolish to pretend clarkson is that guy.

he's a third liner, who's had 1, maybe 2 seasons that might validate him as a 2nd liner. the offense won't stay, and without it.. he's nothing that can't be bought for the third line at 2-3 million.

people are dying to hand him 35-40 million dollar contracts, which basically makes the 40-45 goals he scored to land it worth almost a million each.
- joel878

I like how you keep saying this in the face of evidence to the contrary. He's scored at an average 25G pace 3 of the last 4 seasons. Could argue 4 of the last 5 actually, since 08-09 his 2nd year in the league he scored 17G playing 12 mins a game as a sophomore.

He's a goal scorer who also plays with grit. he's not a grinder who scored a few goals.

this just plain isn't true.

3 in 7 games
9 in 81 games
17 in 82 games
11 in 46 games
12 in 82 games
30 in 80 games
15 in 48 games

at one point has clarkson been a 25 goal scorer when healthy. before he broke his leg he was on pace for 18.

there's zero evidence to suggest he would have even hit that this season considering after the first month of the season, grabovski outscored him.

it's absurd to give a guy that kind of money to hit and fight, when someone as average as clarke macarthur typically is more of an offensive threat
- joel878

Its absurd to think you're signing Clarkson for his goal totals alone, when he can do a lot more than MacArthur away from the puck. You need the guys who can hit and fight in your top 6, while chipping in around 15-20 goals. Hard to find, so you have to over pay sometimes to get a rare commodity.

Our best option, given the ones available, was to keep Grabo..dont sign Weiss or Bozak and save our buyout for next season and see if Grabo can get back to his totals and play of the 3 seasons before this past one.
- systemtool

Ya that was my hope as well, however, Grabo was bought out.

Sooo, I'm assuming Nonis is signing Weiss tomorrow. either that, or something off the board with a big trade.

ya and I get that... my point was Bozak put up 3rd line numbers... this year, playing with guys who put up 1st line numbers.

Kessel and JVR combined for 38 goals. Bozak only had assists. how is that even possible???

Again, Weiss is not my ideal choice, but an "ideal choice" is not available. I think he's the best option available given his age and career thus far.
- Big_Lightnin

trust me, i wasn't bragging up bozak.

i have no problem with weiss short term, only because of how today went. the problem is, he's not signing short term. ridiculous free agency contracts have arrived.

as far as i'm concerned, if you can't say a player is an "ideal choice", you don't lock yourself into paying him long term.

You don't go cutting his minutes and placing him on 3rd or 4th line. To me that's dumb for someone like Grabs. Either way Carlyle blew this one.
- TML4Life85

Carlyle had better options. And Grabo rarely, if ever, played the fourth line. Don't buy his petulant whining.

Bozak played his system and there was no way Kadri could be put behind Grabovski the way they were playing.

Carlyle asked Grabo to be a checker because that's what we needed. If anyone blew it, it was Grabovski who got it in his head that he was entitled to top line minutes just because he was being paid as a top line player.

Grabo couldn't do anything in that role. I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Hes more than a third liner. He plays a lot of PP and top 6. Clarkson is that guy, but not worth more than 4.5 a year at the very most. One or two GMs might be dumb enough to give him 35-40 but its the exception. Especially with the Cap going down and many teams not being able to afford him.
- systemtool

I'd rather they keep the money and go on with our youth instead of paying UFAs who won't make much difference. We need a top tier 1C and a stay at home Dman. So let's hope we get someone for the Lups and Kess line that is good and for a good price. I say they make a deal with Dallas and bring Seguin here even if it means parting with Rielly or Gardiner and a pick .