yup, that's why he's a question mark. All this proves is that guys who come with high expectations are given a longer time to prove their worth. All the Oil kids will be around that age when their contracts come up, meaning their longer term value will be closer to being known then now.

It's the best gamble you can make in this kind of league.
- BigDre

If Stastny would have continued on his projection curve then the contract would have been a steal. Instead he gets injured one year, has a bad year the next and now its considered a bad contract. But what if the Avs had waited and just did a bridge deal with him for a couple years to see how he developed....I think they would have gave him an even bigger contract because of his production in those early years made it look like he was a can't miss prospect.

I'm surprised nobody has brought up Adam Larsson yet. He's played the same number of games, from the same draft year with almost as much hype going into that draft. He has arguably just as much potential to be an all-star defenseman as RNH does to be an all-star center. If NJD signed him this year for 6 mil per, I'm sure Oiler fans would be busting a gut about how terrible the contract is. For all RNH has done in 102 games, it certainly has not commanded a 6 mil salary. Really, it just shows a complete lack of effort on the part of Oiler's management to negotiate a fair contract.

"Hey we give everybody else 6 mil per, we will give you 6 too."
"OK."

Yeah but 4 of those guys have won the cup, and one is in the last year of the contract, so really not as similar as you might want to believe.
- alcatrazhockey

Oh god if it isn't time fot the worst argument in all of professional sports... The Stanley Cup "argument"... Because I'm sure Hall and Ebs wouldn't have won the cup if they played on the Bruins, Hawks or Kings the years they won the cup

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

But not the term. Which is by far the worst part of the contract

who are the bargin contracts?
- derm10

Petry,Belov , Grebs, Joensuu are all very good deals I think. Don't get me wrong, the Oulers do t have perfect cap balance, but they aren't in any trouble either.

Oh god if it isn't time fot the worst argument in all of professional sports... The Stanley Cup "argument"... Because I'm sure Hall and Ebs wouldn't have won the cup if they played on the Bruins, Hawks or Kings the years they won the cup
- laughs2907

Because rewarding your players for winning a championship is so much more outrageous than paying your players for what they may or may not accomplish in the next decade.

I'm surprised nobody has brought up Adam Larsson yet. He's played the same number of games, from the same draft year with almost as much hype going into that draft. He has arguably just as much potential to be an all-star defenseman as RNH does to be an all-star center. If NJD signed him this year for 6 mil per, I'm sure Oiler fans would be busting a gut about how terrible the contract is. For all RNH has done in 102 games, it certainly has not commanded a 6 mil salary. Really, it just shows a complete lack of effort on the part of Oiler's management to negotiate a fair contract.

"Hey we give everybody else 6 mil per, we will give you 6 too."
"OK."
- alcatrazhockey

~ Larsson has been unimpressive so far. Ask Devil's fans... I've actually talked with quite a few on this site who wish to get rid of him. So your statement about him potentially being an all-star, at this point, is laughable.

~ Let's wait and actually see what Larsson signs for.

Because rewarding your players for winning a championship is so much more outrageous than paying your players for what they may or may not accomplish in the next decade.
- alcatrazhockey

Yeah, because Hall, Ebs, and RNH didn't show their ability before getting those contracts... Come on!

And Stanley Cups are a team accomplishment, but whatever you want to believe is fine with me. Colin Fraser >>>>>>>>>>>> HALL!!! Wooooooooooooooo!!! Seguin >>>>>>>>>>>> Hall WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I'm surprised nobody has brought up Adam Larsson yet. He's played the same number of games, from the same draft year with almost as much hype going into that draft. He has arguably just as much potential to be an all-star defenseman as RNH does to be an all-star center. If NJD signed him this year for 6 mil per, I'm sure Oiler fans would be busting a gut about how terrible the contract is. For all RNH has done in 102 games, it certainly has not commanded a 6 mil salary. Really, it just shows a complete lack of effort on the part of Oiler's management to negotiate a fair contract.

"Hey we give everybody else 6 mil per, we will give you 6 too."
"OK."
- alcatrazhockey

I wouldnt say larsson has been nearly as good as rnh this far. Especially in their rookie seasons.
Rnh had 52 in 62, still almost won the scoring title in 20 less games and was 2nd in calder voting.
Didnt larsson sit in the pressbox for roughly a quarter of that same season? And get sheltered 3rd pairing mins when he did play?

I think larsson might be a great defender at some point, but i think it's a pretty poor comparison.
A more apt one might be landeskog. or funnily enough taylor hall or john tavares.

I wouldnt say larsson has been nearly as good as rnh. Especially in their rookie seasons.
Rnh had 52 in 62, still almost won the scoring title in 20 less games and was 2nd in calder voting.
Didnt larsson sit in the pressbox for roughly a quarter of that same season? And get sheltered 3rd pairing mins when he did play?

I think larsson might be a great defender at some point, but i think it's a pretty poor comparison.
A more apt one might be landeskog, or funnily enough taylor hall or john tavares.
- hugefemale dog77

Yup, one of the WORST comparisons I've ever witnessed on this site.

Comparing RNH to the CEO of McDonalds would have been better.

Just for argument sake, ill say of the 3 rnh might be abit of a stretch at that contract.
Both ebs and hall had stronger 2nd seasons.
But lets not forget that rnh had the strongest rookie season of all of em.

People were laughing at hall getting that contract at the time too. Looks like a steal before the first year has even kicked in now.

As oiler fans we know why they did it.
And since it doesnt kick in till the beginning of next year, i feel pretty comfortable that its gonna be great value for the vast majority of the term

Oilers have a lot of faith in these kids. They obviously feel the contracts will be good value in the long run.
- robin_steele264

They have nearly Horcoff levels of faith.

Yeah, because Hall, Ebs, and RNH didn't show their ability before getting those contracts... Come on!

And Stanley Cups are a team accomplishment, but whatever you want to believe is fine with me. Colin Fraser >>>>>>>>>>>> HALL!!! Wooooooooooooooo!!! Seguin >>>>>>>>>>>> Hall WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
- laughs2907

Where are the rings?

They have nearly Horcoff levels of faith.
- golfingsince

But not quite luongo level

Where are the rings?
- alcatrazhockey

Dumbest argument ever

But not quite luongo level
- hugefemale dog77

...but they will block shots.

...but they will block shots.
- nated81

Oh snap!

Dumbest argument ever
- hugefemale dog77

So when the Oilers don't make the playoffs again this year, you can tell me how great you feel about the kids all making 6 mil per year, and about how much potential they have, and about how much better they became in the defensive zone.

So when the Oilers don't make the playoffs again this year, you can tell me how great you feel about the kids all making 6 mil per year, and about how much potential they have, and about how much better they became in the defensive zone.
- alcatrazhockey

Ill tell you unequivocally i feel great about hall making 6 mil.

Nuge wont be making 6 mil till next year.

So there's that.

And i dont see what them not having a cup has to do with anything. At all

So when the Oilers don't make the playoffs again this year, you can tell me how great you feel about the kids all making 6 mil per year, and about how much potential they have, and about how much better they became in the defensive zone.
- alcatrazhockey

Just curious, what team do you cheer for or are you a bandwagon jumper just so you can say your team wins the cup each year?

Just curious, what team do you cheer for or are you a bandwagon jumper just so you can say your team wins the cup each year?
- nated81

Alcatraz would seem like SJ wouldn't it?

Ill tell you unequivocally i feel great about hall making 6 mil.

Nuge wont be making 6 mil till next year.

So there's that.

And i dont see what them not having a cup has to do with anything. At all


- hugefemale dog77

Of all the players making 6 mil or more this year, there are only three which have never played in a playoff game... one of them is a goalie... bet you can't guess the other 2!

Alcatraz would seem like SJ wouldn't it?
- golfingsince

Guess all you want but as far as I'm concerned I'm just an NHL fan with the worst critical comparisons ever seen on Hockeybuzz.

Guess all you want but as far as I'm concerned I'm just an NHL fan with the worst critical comparisons ever seen on Hockeybuzz.
- alcatrazhockey

So you can't even man up and say which team you support the most? I am an NHL fan as well but the Oilers are my team since I was 4 years old. I enjoy watching almost all the other teams play, depending on the match up, but if any one is playing the Oilers, I hope the Oil wins. Everytime.

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

Hate? You Oilers fans don't know what being hated is. Why would anyone hate the Oilers anyway?