In my opinion it's terrible because the Oilers held all the bargaining chips and decided to just throw that away and offer him a big contract. He still has a year left. Let him go and show this season that hopefully he IS a $6 million/year player. Doesn't make sense.
- woopstash

They didn't even have to throw out this deal AFTER this year. He's still an RFA for at least 2 more years. But no...Hall and Eberle got their big deals prematurely so RNH has to as well or he's gonna be pissed.

They've completely screwed their salary structure. It's assumed Yak will get the same thing next year, and I guess Schultz will get something close as well if he has a good year. Then there's Klefbom and Nurse down the road. And God help them if Dubnyk lights it up.

Fair enough.

Tavares has missed 3 games in his entire career. Hall has missed 41 in 3 years, RNH has missed 28 in 2 years (with more to come).

This is why you guys keep throwing out PPG instead of points to bolster your arguments. This isn't a terrible contract because RNH is a bad player....we know he's not. It's because he has huge health risks which have really hurt his development.

It's terrible not because RNH won't be worth it one day, but because it was entirely unnecessary and premature. Let's just call it Oiler tax and move on.
- djamon

I don't disagree with it being bad timing, but I also think people are overselling his regression last season and its clouding their judgement. what he didn't prove last season (scoring at or near ppg) he made up for in vastly improved defensive play and being able to play against top lines. So I believe he's pretty close to being worth it because he's scored 0.75 PPG over his career while proving himself at least last season as a two way performer. Although its a small sample size, I think putting everything together he's worth at or close to 6 million.

Maybe you should watch Hall, RNH, and Yakupov play... Because I KNOW you don't.
- laughs2907

I live in Vancouver and have center ice every year. I've seen the oilers plenty, I have not slammed any of them, I rate Hall and Eberle as fantastic players and RNH could well turn into one, but he's not quite there yet.

The Leafs won more Cups than the Oilers period. I apologize you cant compare or that you werent relevant sooner. And that you're bitter.
- systemtool

Cups / Toronto... were you born yet? I doubt it.....

wow, people are stupid. Anyone who has a problem with this contract knows (frank) all about RNH, the Oilers, and hockey in general.
- SpoiledByOil

LOL. And they hate puppies too!!

Lupul - 1.02 points/game after 2012. Toews - .97
Lupul - 1.12 points/game after 2013. Toews - 1.02

Lupul >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Toews
- woopstash

So why are you posting the same garbage in your response? And you do realize that Yak played a shortened season, don't you?

Tavares 202 pts after 3 years, Hall - 145
Tavares 121 pts after 2 years, RNH - 76
Tavares 54 pts after 1 year, Yak - 31
- woopstash

Tavares 195 pts after 2013 - 159
Tavares 148 pts after 2012, Crosby - 103
Tavares 67 pts after 2011, Crosby - 66

Tavares >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Crosby

Yeah, you can't make arguments entirely based on point totals or PPG. You have to factor in linemates, shooting %'s, zone starts, PP time and the quality of competition faced.
- Nucker101

It's why I'm losing my poop seeing people arguing over who's better based off just goals or points. It's lazy.

because the Isles don't have much cap room this year and the cap is going up? rofl. New building, best tv contract, our only problem at this point is that our owner is a wingnut.

Look - I love the Oilers young talent. I do, I'm not saying RNH is a bad player, overrated player or won't be a good player. I disagree with the length and the amount of the contract - at this time. I believe they could have signed him during the season to this deal if he showed he could continue to improve and even next offseason. They threw a lot of money at a guy who hasn't scored 20 goals while playing with 1st overall draft picks.

It wasn't necessary to do this yet.
- Isles_since_6

Uhh you have 14mill in cap space.....

My IQ dropped reading these comments, (frank) me people are (frank)ing stupid.
- SpoiledByOil

From 90 to 85.

was the nuge able to sign the new contract without breaking a finger?

Tavares 195 pts after 2013 - 159
Tavares 148 pts after 2012, Crosby - 103
Tavares 67 pts after 2011, Crosby - 66

Tavares >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Crosby
- laughs2907

Lupul - 1.02 points/game after 2012. Toews - .97
Lupul - 1.12 points/game after 2013. Toews - 1.02

The three Oilers missed a half year by default because of the lockout. so this doesnt work.
- Jack-artist

Shhhhhh... They will not grasp this.

Lupul - 1.02 points/game after 2012. Toews - .97
Lupul - 1.12 points/game after 2013. Toews - 1.02
- woopstash

Tavares 195 pts after 2013 - 159
Tavares 148 pts after 2012, Crosby - 103
Tavares 67 pts after 2011, Crosby - 66

Tavares >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Crosby

You're right, what do goals have anything to do with contracts. 4 goals, 100 goals, no goals.... Who cares?! Goals should have no baring as to how much a number 1 centre gets paid.
- iknowbest

you're just embarrassing yourself

The hate is coming, only means are team is seen as a real threat this year, by other teams fans.
- FiretheGM

That's good material right there.

Then why haven't you found any that make RNH better than Tavares?
- woopstash

i haven't looked. Found porn

ridiculous contract. LUNACY.
- jimbro83

What do you mean? What's the difference with paying a guy big money before his prime as opposed to paying a player big money when he's passed it?
I'll tell you: there is uncertainty that the young player's production will be what it is hoped, an there is abosolute certainty that an old farts production will dwindle.

The real question is this. Who would you rather have right now? RNH and his contract or Brad Richards and his deal?

My IQ dropped reading these comments, (frank) me people are (frank)ing stupid.
- SpoiledByOil

Just imagine of the cola man was around

So by your logic, Lupul is the 6th best player in the NHL. Cool.
- woopstash

I think the one stat that really sets Tavares apart from those horrid Oiler kids is his phenomenal plus minus... Absolutely phenomenal.

I think the one stat that really sets Tavares apart from those horrid Oiler kids is his phenomenal plus minus... Absolutely phenomenal.
- laughs2907

Pascal Dupuis led the league in plus/minus last season. Best player in the NHL.

Amazing that Oiler fans think this.
- systemtool

Agreed... Stats are bad. Hall, RNH and Yak are clearly one dimensional players, with nothing but offense to offer. Anyone who have seen them play clearly knows this.

Pascal Dupuis led the league in plus/minus last season. Best player in the NHL.
- woopstash

What separates Tavares from Hall, RNH, and Yak (respective to each year played)???

Fair enough.

Tavares has missed 3 games in his entire career. Hall has missed 41 in 3 years, RNH has missed 28 in 2 years (with more to come).

This is why you guys keep throwing out PPG instead of points to bolster your arguments. This isn't a terrible contract because RNH is a bad player....we know he's not. It's because he has huge health risks which have really hurt his development.

It's terrible not because RNH won't be worth it one day, but because it was entirely unnecessary and premature. Let's just call it Oiler tax and move on.
- djamon

How many games have Crosby missed? Is Tavares better than Crosby?

Tavares: 6 years, $33 million
RNH: 7 years, $42 million

I could be reading that wrong, but those look like different numbers to me. Add to the fact that Tavares is a much better player than RNH and the Tavares deal is probably the best contract in the NHL.
- iknowbest

For now he is. Not saying he will be, but Nuge could turn out to be the superior player when he hits his prime. "Much" better is a bit of a stretch.