Love me some Bolland, but you can't feel good about $5mil+ for a shutdown center on a 30-35 win team.
- 1mbecker

If I had to make a case in Tallon's defense, I'd say he was looking to overpay someone to keep a contract on the books if he wants to reboot/reload this team again.

He'll need to stay at the floor and they won't be near the ceiling soon, so the cap hit doesn't really affect him. Its the same reason they didn't have a problem taking Bobby Lou on the books. Theyre both low-key guys who you know what to expect from, and you can keep around while you're building a team.

Edit: I didn't mean Luongo is low-key in the sense that he's got a mild personality, I meant in the sense that he won't request a trade or complain about ice time etc.

Get anything close to this Dave Bolland, and Florida will be just fine (that's Ryan Suter he undresses, btw)

Building winning teams through free agency isn't this simple. I don't like either of these signings.. When you make a splash in free agency, the GM should be adding complementary peices to an already solid core. Dave bolland new deal has a foul odor to it & it going to get stinkier by the day

The worst FA signing of the year goes to Florida on this bolland deal..

Now the David Lagwand signing at 3 mill per in Ottawa, could be the steal of the FA's
- Erik6Karlsson5

Brooks Orpik??????? That's the worst contract by far...

Brooks Orpik??????? That's the worst contract by far...
- Panthers4life

Orpik and Deryk (frank)ing Engelland got Bolland beat by a long shot.

Dubinsky got 6 years, 5.85M per today as well. Bolland's contract really isn't that bad.

Orpik and Deryk (frank)ing Engelland got Bolland beat by a long shot.

Dubinsky got 6 years, 5.85M per today as well. Bolland's contract really isn't that bad.
- mochoson

Definitely, those contracts are crazy! I actually like the dubinsky Signing. Maybe a little overpaid, with a lot of years on the books, but he's good for columbus a hard nose two way center. He showed up huge in the playoffs as well.

Alcohol....copious amounts of it.....
- Iggysbff

Why does it even matter? It's not like they're up against the cap and need the space. And given the state of the franchise and the intense level of apathy and disinterest in the team in the Miami/Surprise/South Florida area, it doesn't appear that they would be interested in getting close the the cap any time in the next 5 years anyway. Let Bolland have his payday and be done with it.

Also, the premise of this blog is flawed, because your highest paid players will always produce at a lower rate per dollar, regardless of whether they are "worth" that amount. By your logic, the Kane and Toews deals you maligned are extremely palatable when offset by the cheaper deals of Brandon Saad and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Orpik's contract isn't so bad because John Carlson is cheaper. See the hole in your argument?

Last year's off season, I thought David Clarkson was the joke of the entire NHL. Back then I had a gut feeling he was gonna be an undeniable flop...just like he was. This off season, David Bolland is clearly even a bigger joke than David Clarkson. My gut feeling is you should buy him out of his contract before game one. There is no way David Bolland is tradable with this contract. 5M$ (+) a year for someone who produces on average 0.5 points a game is______.

Why does it even matter? It's not like they're up against the cap and need the space. And given the state of the franchise and the intense level of apathy and disinterest in the team in the Miami/Surprise/South Florida area, it doesn't appear that they would be interested in getting close the the cap any time in the next 5 years anyway. Let Bolland have his payday and be done with it.

Also, the premise of this blog is flawed, because your highest paid players will always produce at a lower rate per dollar, regardless of whether they are "worth" that amount. By your logic, the Kane and Toews deals you maligned are extremely palatable when offset by the cheaper deals of Brandon Saad and Niklas Hjalmarsson. Orpik's contract isn't so bad because John Carlson is cheaper. See the hole in your argument?
- Sandus

When under performers are way overpaid... it has a pretty bad effect on the locker room... especially bad effect on players that are underpaid and overproduce. Toews and Kane win cups... bolland was on the 3rd line of that team.

Last year's off season, I thought David Clarkson was the joke of the entire NHL. Back then I had a gut feeling he was gonna be an undeniable flop...just like he was. This off season, David Bolland is clearly even a bigger joke than David Clarkson. My gut feeling is you should buy him out of his contract before game one. There is no way David Bolland is tradable with this contract. 5M$ (+) a year for someone who produces on average 0.5 points a game is______.
- PtotheY

God this right here is what is wrong with a lot of people.

Dude there is a LOT more to the game then just points! I know it's hard to understand...

P.S I don't like the deal, but at the same time it's not like we were the only team that was willing to give him 5 mill, and plus it's not even the worst FA signing orpik takes that cake by a mile!

Orpik and Deryk (frank)ing Engelland got Bolland beat by a long shot.

Dubinsky got 6 years, 5.85M per today as well. Bolland's contract really isn't that bad.
- mochoson

Ya Dubinsky gets more money and term, but I hardly see anyone even talking about it, but bolland signs with us and no one shuts the (frank) up about it. The dude hasn't even played one game for us yet, must be because he was Leaf?!?

Edit: looking around for some more reactions to the dub signing and people are praising the deal!

It's the same as Leaf fans trying to overlook Dion's contract.... want to feel better... look at Clarkson's contract... it's less money!

Panthers now become the best team in south Florida. Here's the opening the franchise needed. Yes, the area is full of bandwagon jumpers, so come on Dale, swing a few deals and sure up the team.

I recently attended the D-camp scrimmage and I noticed a couple players who really played well today; Matheson and Lammikko, who played on opposite teams! Matheson can skate & pass well and looks like a great leader on the ice. Lammikko had great hustle and scored a pretty sweet goal! Now on Ekblad. I think he's got amazing assets including his size, shot power and accuracy as well as his passing ability! But he looked a bit sluggish. Maybe he was trying to preserve his body, although he definitely looked like he had another gear. I'm excited to see Ekblad in camp. If he indeed does have another gear like I witnessed today, it could get interesting!

Panthers now become the best team in south Florida. Here's the opening the franchise needed. Yes, the area is full of bandwagon jumpers, so come on Dale, swing a few deals and sure up the team.
- PanthersGoal

Try to spin it anyway you want. Bolland is the worst UFA deal of the year.

- Iggysbff

You would laugh, look where you're stuck at.

I recently attended the D-camp scrimmage and I noticed a couple players who really played well today; Matheson and Lammikko, who played on opposite teams! Matheson can skate & pass well and looks like a great leader on the ice. Lammikko had great hustle and scored a pretty sweet goal! Now on Ekblad. I think he's got amazing assets including his size, shot power and accuracy as well as his passing ability! But he looked a bit sluggish. Maybe he was trying to preserve his body, although he definitely looked like he had another gear. I'm excited to see Ekblad in camp. If he indeed does have another gear like I witnessed today, it could get interesting!
- FL.Panthers2189

Did you go to the red/blue game this morning?

Did you go to the red/blue game this morning?
- PanthersGoal

Yes, that would be correct!

Try to spin it anyway you want. Bolland is the worst UFA deal of the year.
- Iggysbff

I'm not trying to spin it in anyway. It's a bad contract I have said this before. Is it the worst now? That I have to disagree with.

But in the end who cares is the deal hurting us? The answer is no we still have a ton of cap space and a lot of money will he coming off the books next year. You can't tell me there isn't one team in the league that hasn't given out a bad FA deal, but the important part is at least he makes us better, he fills a role we needed.

Did you go to the red/blue game this morning?
- PanthersGoal

I was there as well, and the best player there IMO was easily Rocco! That kid is awesome, he stands out to me as much as Bjugstad did last year.

Ekblad I will say was slow to start, but was still pretty good out there and the guy has an unbelievable shot I haven't seen a panther defender with that kind of wrist shot before! One thing I did really like is he is very calm with the puck and doesn't treat it like a hand grenade.

that's just retarded..
that's like losing your left arm and saying its ok cause you still have the right one.
or my woman cheated on me, but at least I didn't get an STD.. stupid stupid blog.

Try to spin it anyway you want. Bolland is the worst UFA deal of the year.
- Iggysbff

Damn straight, and for once.. it wasn't my team that did it..
there may be hope.

I was there as well, and the best player there IMO was easily Rocco! That kid is awesome, he stands out to me as much as Bjugstad did last year.

Ekblad I will say was slow to start, but was still pretty good out there and the guy has an unbelievable shot I haven't seen a panther defender with that kind of wrist shot before! One thing I did really like is he is very calm with the puck and doesn't treat it like a hand grenade.
- Crazycaboose

I'd like to see him get a shot at making the club. Compassion for the game and energy is something the team needs.

I still say some moves are going to be made, and we'll be surprised still on who's in on the opening faceoff, opening night.

Damn straight, and for once.. it wasn't my team that did it..
there may be hope.
- nascarguy

No, there isn't.