Simple math tells me that $24M for 4 forwards is a bad idea.
- Jeffmt

Detroit 23.2
Boston 22.2
Pitts 26.1
San Jose 24.6
Chicago 23.7

These teams all invest about the same in their top 4 forwards and seem to have done pretty well. I just do t see it as a huge issue. It's tight but manageable. Just gotta get some value deals and ELC's .

Yeah, it's a lot of money and term, probably too much, but signing a UFA and a RFA aren't the same thing at all.
- Jeffmt

Right, UFA's don't count towards the cap... How silly of us to forget this.

- laughs2907

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...utbid-leafs-for-clarkson/

Is it really that funny?

Right, UFA's don't count towards the cap... How silly of us to forget this.
- laughs2907

You always have to overpay when you're competing with 4 or 5 other teams. The whole point of having an RFA period is to give the team some control. This is basic stuff.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/report-oilers-outbid-leafs-for-clarkson/

Is it really that funny?
- Jeffmt

Two wrongs do not make a right.

Two wrongs do not make a right.
- laughs2907

Well if you're going to laugh at the Leafs for signing that contract, shouldn't you laugh at the Oilers for offering more than that? Glass houses, right?

You always have to overpay when you're competing with 4 or 5 other teams. The whole point of having an RFA period is to give the team some control. This is basic stuff.
- Jeffmt

I don't care if you're competing with 20 teams, you weigh your needs with available cap space. Overpaying is overpaying. I'd gladly take the RNH deal over the Clarkson one. Basic stuff.

Yeah, it's a lot of money and term, probably too much, but signing a UFA and a RFA aren't the same thing at all.
- Jeffmt

Oilers have a lot of faith in these kids. They obviously feel the contracts will be good value in the long run.

I think it was a good deal, but only the future will dictate whether that is true or not. Some people think it was horrible, which is fine, but those people should realize that this deal is very similar to what other young guys around the league are getting... This is not something that is unique in any shape or form... This is not something that only the Oilers are doing.

As far as Tavares goes, I see no (or very little difference) between what he has done vs. what Hall, RNH, Yakupov (relative to year played). Until he blows those guys out of the water, he will not be deserving of the attention that he is currently receiving. Until then, I will view him as overrated -- Do not mistake "overrated" as a knock on his play... He is a great player... Just an overrated one.
- laughs2907

Understand something...it's not about whether he's worth it. That's too subjective an argument to have. It's simply the fact that they didn't have to do it. It's a waste of money and sets a terrible precedent for the rest of the team.

Why on earth would anyone think it's wise to pay someone way more than he's entitled? It was a mistake with Eberle and Hall too. Eberle isn't a 6m player now any more than he was when they signed him to the deal. Hall's looking good for sure...but he has to play more than 60 games this year, and years going forward.

Lowe gambled with Penner too and it shot him in the foot. He did it with Horcoff and all the way back to Pisani. He's a gambler who pays players based on potential rather than performance.

Detroit 23.2
Boston 22.2
Pitts 26.1
San Jose 24.6
Chicago 23.7

These teams all invest about the same in their top 4 forwards and seem to have done pretty well. I just do t see it as a huge issue. It's tight but manageable. Just gotta get some value deals and ELC's .
- Jeropotato

these teams also don;t have all 4 forwards locked up longterm.. alfy and iggy are on 1 year deals... and pitts 4th forward is dupuis at 3.75...... and sj wins in the regulars season.. not the playoffs.

Also, it's probably worth mentioning that Edmonton were offering Clarkson more. Go figure.
- Jeffmt

Says Dreger. He certainly doesn't have any kind of agenda involving the leafs

Bullet dodged i say. MacT is basically a young Keanu.

I don't care if you're competing with 20 teams, you weigh your needs with available cap space. Overpaying is overpaying. I'd gladly take the RNH deal over the Clarkson one. Basic stuff.
- laughs2907

The point is that this $6M deal would have still been there in two seasons. They could have bought themselves some more time to make sure RNH is the player they think he is.

Right, UFA's don't count towards the cap... How silly of us to forget this.
- laughs2907

a ufa are almost always overpaid.... thats what it takes to get those players.

Well if you're going to laugh at the Leafs for signing that contract, shouldn't you laugh at the Oilers for offering more than that? Glass houses, right?
- Jeffmt

I said "two wrongs" do not make a right.

And we actually did not make the deal, you did. Whether it would have went down, I don't know... What I do know is that you got stuck with his sh1tty contract, and you're here attempting to pick us apart for signing a #1 overall pick to a 7 year contract at 6 million per? Give me a (frank)ing break.

Wow that's a lot of money. I hope RNH pans out!! Good game last night! I've heard a lot about Nurse and Joensuu and how good they played. I thought they were both good, but whoever this Hunt guy is, I thought he was great. I know he's a D-man, but Who is this guy and where did he come from? He was probably one of the best Oilers last night.

Says Dreger. He certainly doesn't have any kind of agenda involving the leafs

Bullet dodged i say. MacT is basically a young Keanu.
- Oilklok

Does he? At any rate, I think he's got a lot more credibility than any of us.

I love you Leaf fans but seeing as they just gave a 7 year deal at 5+ mill to a 29 year old with a CAREER HIGH 46 points...maybe you shouldn't throw stones



- robin_steele264

I tell you what...I'll admit the Clarkson signing was grossly inflated (although less than what you guys tried to give him) if you admit MacT jizzed in his pants on the RNH deal.

a ufa are almost always overpaid.... thats what it takes to get those players.
- derm10

I do not care whether it's RFAs or UFAs, it all comes down to needs versus cap room. It all goes towards the cap.

I said "two wrongs" do not make a right.

And we actually did not make the deal, you did. Whether it would have went down, I don't know... What I do know is that you got stuck with his sh1tty contract, and you're here attempting to pick us apart for signing a #1 overall pick to a 7 year contract at 6 million per? Give me a (frank)ing break.
- laughs2907

Ok, one more time, I didn't sign the Clarkson contract. In fact, I don't sign any Leafs contracts. Just because the Leafs overpay a player here and there, that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to have opinions about other teams. When did you guys get so (frank)ing sensitive? I didn't say anything bad about RNH, I didn't even say he wasn't worth $6M, maybe he is. All I said is that they could have waited another couple years before they gave him big money. If that's the worst thing that gets said in Oilers blogs then you guys have it pretty good.

I do not care whether it's RFAs or UFAs, it all comes down to needs versus cap room. It all goes towards the cap.
- laughs2907

i don;t get it... oilers have lots of need .. not much cap room.... leaf now only have a few needs... and not much cap room.... what will happen... leaf will give oilers one of there bottem dman

Understand something...it's not about whether he's worth it. That's too subjective an argument to have. It's simply the fact that they didn't have to do it. It's a waste of money and sets a terrible precedent for the rest of the team.

Why on earth would anyone think it's wise to pay someone way more than he's entitled? It was a mistake with Eberle and Hall too. Eberle isn't a 6m player now any more than he was when they signed him to the deal. Hall's looking good for sure...but he has to play more than 60 games this year, and years going forward.

Lowe gambled with Penner too and it shot him in the foot. He did it with Horcoff and all the way back to Pisani. He's a gambler who pays players based on potential rather than performance.
- djamon

Its a low risk, high reward investment. The chances that RNH plays above the level of this contract (let alone WAY above it), are much greater than him not living up to it. The main thing people here are failing to grasp was how good he really was this past season. They look at the point totals and assume that they know what happened, but it's not even close to the real picture.

Understand something...it's not about whether he's worth it. That's too subjective an argument to have. It's simply the fact that they didn't have to do it. It's a waste of money and sets a terrible precedent for the rest of the team.

Why on earth would anyone think it's wise to pay someone way more than he's entitled? It was a mistake with Eberle and Hall too. Eberle isn't a 6m player now any more than he was when they signed him to the deal. Hall's looking good for sure...but he has to play more than 60 games this year, and years going forward.

Lowe gambled with Penner too and it shot him in the foot. He did it with Horcoff and all the way back to Pisani. He's a gambler who pays players based on potential rather than performance.
- djamon

Lowe has nothing to do with this...

I think you should take a look around the league and look at what young players are going for these days... Like I said in my post, this is not a unique situation.

I tell you what...I'll admit the Clarkson signing was grossly inflated (although less than what you guys tried to give him) if you admit MacT jizzed in his pants on the RNH deal.
- djamon

I thought he might wait a little longer, but all along ive hoped to get them signed at 6 or less.

I think this contract will look great in a couple years.

Its a low risk, high reward investment. The chances that RNH plays above the level of this contract (let alone WAY above it), are much greater than him not living up to it. The main thing people here are failing to grasp was how good he really was this past season. They look at the point totals and assume that they know what happened, but it's not even close to the real picture.
- Oilklok

what is the real picture? a bunch of soft teddy bears?

i don;t get it... oilers have lots of need .. not much cap room.... leaf now only have a few needs... and not much cap room.... what will happen... leaf will give oilers one of there bottem dman
- derm10

What needs do the Oilers have versus Leafs? I don't think you're up to date on what the Oilers have right now.