Michael Jordan was never the highest paid, his choice. He always look far less so they could improve the team around him. There is no way Chicago builds that kind of dream team for so many years if AJ takes his fair share. That bulls team is probably the last dynasty we will ever see, in all sports.
- hunglikeapuck

ya he was. During his prime, no, he initially signed a long term low money deal. But his last deal with Chicago he made them pay out the ass.

Yeah.

Fraser is a better fighter. That's about it.
- robin_steele264

+/- may or may not be a meaningless stat but it would be pretty dumb to argue there not being a significant statistical difference between a +18 guy (who doubled the other guys points) and a -1 guy.

But hey, I'm sure you're right. Smid is untouchable anyways so this is pointless.

+/- may or may not be a meaningless stat but it would be pretty dumb to argue there not being a significant statistical difference between a +18 guy (who doubled the other guys points) and a -1 guy.

But hey, I'm sure you're right. Smid is untouchable anyways so this is pointless.
- SameOld

Dion was -4 if you wanna play +/-


No need to get all defensive. This isn't a big issue.

The New York Yankees won 4 World Series in 5 years 1996-2000
The L.A Lakers won 5 times between 2000 and 2010
New England Patriots won 3 superbowls / 4 years in the early 2000's.
The Miami heat have been to the final 3 straight times and won the last 2

gotta love the notion that Kessel SHOULD take less...did price take less? No, he became the 3rd highest paid goalie in the league when he signed his contract. not bad for a goalie with a career .915 sv% (the same as Reimer, who makes 4.7 million less) Phil is either gonna get paid here or somewhere else.
- GardinerExpress

Wasn't meaning to comment on kessel. Someone posted about a kid saying he was going to play for 2mill nothing more. I don't expect kessel to do anything any other player would do, get as much as u can. AJ was one of a kind in that department.
Granted his endorsements allowed him that flexibility.

Dion was -4 if you wanna play +/-


No need to get all defensive. This isn't a big issue.
- robin_steele264

Sure dion was -4 and if Smid was playing 25+ mins a night against the league's best, he would likely be considerably worse than that.

His last two years. Every other contract he left money on the table with the sole purposes of improving the team. His willingness to do so built the dynasty, the building of the dynasty allowed that money to be there for his finally contract. Smart man. If u enjoy reading for pleasure then I recommend reading one of his biographies. The man was so obsessed with winning.....
- hunglikeapuck

pretty sure he only ever signed 2 contracts (prior to the $30M ones), and it was before the money got ridiculous. 8yrs/$25M in 88 was pretty big money

Sure dion was -4 and if Smid was playing 25+ mins a night against the league's best, he would likely be considerably worse than that.
- SameOld

Smid was always matched vs. the other teams best.


No idea why you wanna turn this into a Dion vs. Smid thing??

Carlyle loves Kulemin. Best 2-way forward on the team, even with his limited offence the last couple years.
- Big_Lightnin

2-ways means offense. The guy can't score.

8? not quite
- vancity787

All the stats say he is worth 8 million.

ya he was. During his prime, no, he initially signed a long term low money deal. But his last deal with Chicago he made them pay out the ass.
- Big_Lightnin

Yes but at that point the $ was there and it didn't cripple the team. I shouldn't have said "never the highest paid" that was false. But when it mattered he left a lot of $ on the table so they could build a good team. (frank) was it ever a good team.

All the stats say he is worth 8 million.
- RogerRoeper

Kessel will get 8

Kessel will get 8
- robin_steele264

Yup and he's worth it.

2-ways means offense. The guy can't score.
- RogerRoeper

11 goal, 40 pt pace last year playing a checking role with a struggling grabo for most of the year. Nothing wrong with that.

soon as they put him with Kadri he started scoring again.

2010-11 was the only year he's struggled offensively

2-ways means offense. The guy hasn't scored lately.
- RogerRoeper

There ya go.
Plus there is more to offense than scoring.

pretty sure he only ever signed 2 contracts (prior to the $30M ones), and it was before the money got ridiculous. 8yrs/$25M in 88 was pretty big money
- Big_Lightnin

Sure it was big money. My point is he could have asked for way more.
His first priority was wining and I respect that.

Yes but at that point the $ was there and it didn't cripple the team. I shouldn't have said "never the highest paid" that was false. But when it mattered he left a lot of $ on the table so they could build a good team. (frank) was it ever a good team.
- hunglikeapuck

not to the extent you are saying he did though. in 88, they were 3 years away from their first championship. he had just won his 1st MVP and scoring title, and signed an 8 yr, $25M contract, which was pretty big money and term for 1988.

that's all I'm saying.

Kessel will get 8
- robin_steele264

He's worth it. Still young, he'll be hitting 50g on a regular basis very soon.

how old is the Ray Ferraro Mocks Dion Phaneuf video?

Sure it was big money. My point is he could have asked for way more.
His first priority was wining and I respect that.
- hunglikeapuck

I'll agree... and his Nike contract had already made his salary irrelevant.

He's worth it. Still young, he'll be hitting 50g on a regular basis very soon.
- hunglikeapuck

Oh I don't think he will ever hit 50


Still gets 8 though

not to the extent you are saying he did though. in 88, they were 3 years away from their first championship. he had just won his 1st MVP and scoring title, and signed an 8 yr, $25M contract, which was pretty big money and term for 1988.

that's all I'm saying.
- Big_Lightnin

You're right, not to that extent but same result.

Yeah.

Fraser is a better fighter. That's about it.
- robin_steele264

Does Smid even lift?

Oh I don't think he will ever hit 50


Still gets 8 though
- robin_steele264

He's turning into more of an assists guy now. IO don't really care if he hits 40 or 50 if he keeps at a PPG pace.

Does Smid even lift?
- MapleLeafsFTW

You can get shot for asking some people that.

He's turning into more of an assists guy now. IO don't really care if he hits 40 or 50 if he keeps at a PPG pace.
- RogerRoeper

Not really, he's still scoring goals at the same pace. He is becoming a better playmaker though but he's still putting the puck in the net just as much. And he's hungry for more as well.