I say because it is easier to maintain high level of play over short season. If you struggle at all during the season. Take Giroux for instance, his injury had him start the 1st 15 games quite slowly. Had this been a shortened season do you think he still gets Hart trophy consideration? Not likely. Look at Bobrovski, he won the Vezina off 38 games. It is a lot easier to maintain good stats over 38 games than it is for 60+
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Especially for high minute munching D, I agree 100%.
Chara ran out of gas 2 years straigh and Phaneuf at the end of regular season.
Same can be said about PK in the Rangers series.
I am sure there are more examples.

WTF IS MTL DOING! Subban will walk in two years as it would seem.
- jake24242

they would trade him before he walked

MEH............. The Norris is a joke award, so it really doesn't hold that much weight.

I mean it doesn't take into account the main attribute of the award, which is DEFENSE.




- classic321

So you are saying Lidstrom sucked on D?

So are the Hall, Eberle and RNH deals still stupid?
- Jeropotato

I never ever said they were.
Smart Cap management deals (With 1 big disclaimer, in case of the Oilers, sorry - Playoff performance)
Bridge contracts are good, but not for every single player.

I never ever said they were.
Smart Cap management deals (With 1 big disclaimer, in case of the Oilers, sorry - Playoff performance)
Bridge contracts are good, but not for every single player.
- StargateSG1

So you are saying Lidstrom sucked on D?


- StargateSG1

2 of the last 3 winners do

So you are saying Lidstrom sucked on D?


- StargateSG1

Nah lidstrom put up big numbers and played d. He didnt say every norris winner was picked wrong. Just that offence is more important than d on the noris trophy

So are the Hall, Eberle and RNH deals still stupid?
- Jeropotato

It's all about risk management in my view.

The Oilers protected themselves against escalating costs with those players, but had and still have the downside risk of under performance. Seems to be working out fine so far.

Montreal protected themselves against underperformance, but now are in a situation of escalating costs with PK. Interesting to see how this plays out.

Nah lidstrom put up big numbers and played d. He didnt say every norris winner was picked wrong. Just that offence is more important than d on the noris trophy
- kylkri

It should be both, actually.
I Agree, unfortunately that isn't always the case.

It's all about risk management in my view.

The Oilers protected themselves against escalating costs with those players, but had and still have the downside risk of under performance. Seems to be working out fine so far.

Montreal protected themselves against underperformance, but now are in a situation of escalating costs with PK. Interesting to see how this plays out.
- Tumbleweed

100% Bubba....but RNH needs to flirt with 60-70 points this year to earn that cash.

Eklund: Subban and Habs Meeting Past Arbitration Start To Get a Deal Done?
- Eklund

Wtf ia bergevin thinkin? Hes gonna sour this guy.
Take the 2 years at 6 or whatever and then walk pk

Wtf ia bergevin thinkin? Hes gonna sour this guy.
Take the 2 years at 6 or whatever and then walk pk
- hugefemale dog77

it would only be a 1 year arbitration award keeping him a RFA one more summer

It should be both, actually.
I Agree, unfortunately that isn't always the case.
- StargateSG1

True. Karlson is the only winner with questionable defensive play, but when you consider he was a ppg d man, its hard to argue

it would only be a 1 year arbitration award keeping him a RFA one more summer
- H_H_F

The TEAM has the decision on 1 or 2 years?

Cause I thought there was a decision between 1 or 2 years somewhere.

It's all about risk management in my view.

The Oilers protected themselves against escalating costs with those players, but had and still have the downside risk of under performance. Seems to be working out fine so far.

Montreal protected themselves against underperformance, but now are in a situation of escalating costs with PK. Interesting to see how this plays out.
- Tumbleweed

Well said. The bridge deal really seems like the prevailing wisdom, but im really not sure it should be.
Fair enough if ur really unsure on a guys potential I guess.

As far as edm; looks like they hit it out of the park on hall. While eberle is a little less of a sure thing. Not terribly overpaid by any stretch, but still probably not a great value as if yet.

Pk took his bridge and then won a norris and was fantastic in the playoffs this year. He did his part, now pay him. Even if it hurts abit

The TEAM has the decision on 1 or 2 years?

Cause I thought there was a decision between 1 or 2 years somewhere.
- hugefemale dog77

the opposite party has the choice

if player files for arb, team choose and vice versa

It's all about risk management in my view.

The Oilers protected themselves against escalating costs with those players, but had and still have the downside risk of under performance. Seems to be working out fine so far.

Montreal protected themselves against underperformance, but now are in a situation of escalating costs with PK. Interesting to see how this plays out.
- Tumbleweed

Dont agree wuth the risk management view. Overpaying for 4 years of RFA to get 2 years of UFA which will leave them as UFA's at the prime age of 27.

Dont agree wuth the risk management view. Overpaying for 4 years of RFA to get 2 years of UFA which will leave them as UFA's at the prime age of 27.
- hockey_dude

No. They still had to play out their original 3 rfa years before they got their raise. And they were 18 year old nhl'ers
7 years of service woulda put them at 25 as ufa's.

Halls deal is a beauty. No if ands or buts about it

the opposite party has the choice

if player files for arb, team choose and vice versa
- hamiltonhabfan

Interesting.

So why would bergevin take the two years and pk into ufa under any circumstances? Anything around 6 or 7 is a decent deal.
Even if it means avoiding another hassle next year, theyre still protecting urself on the asset.
If it is in fact a problem again; pk is prob gonna walk regardless

The TEAM has the decision on 1 or 2 years?

Cause I thought there was a decision between 1 or 2 years somewhere.
- hugefemale dog77

The team does have the option of one or two years. But come next summer, they can elect for arbitration in June, which means he can still get offer sheets; or offer him another one year deal worth whatever he gets from arbitration this year in order to keep his rights. So regardless of what they choose, he is pretty much guaranteed the awarded salary for the next 2 years then UFA status, should he decide it's what he wants.

The team does have the option of one or two years. But come next summer, they can elect for arbitration in June, which means he can still get offer sheets; or offer him another one year deal worth whatever he gets from arbitration this year in order to keep his rights. So regardless of what they choose, he is pretty much guaranteed the awarded salary for the next 2 years then UFA status, should he decide it's what he wants.
- Antilles

I see.

Dont agree wuth the risk management view. Overpaying for 4 years of RFA to get 2 years of UFA which will leave them as UFA's at the prime age of 27.
- hockey_dude

Exactly! A lot of people on this forum are just blowing smoke.

Montreal is doing this correctly, no argument there. If they do sign him to a multi year contract in the next few months, they'll lock him in till he's 34. At this point, they'll do the same for him they are doing with Markov, if he decides to play-out his career in Montreal.

Exactly! A lot of people on this forum are just blowing smoke.

Montreal is doing this correctly, no argument there. If they do sign him to a multi year contract in the next few months, they'll lock him in till he's 34. At this point, they'll do the same for him they are doing with Markov, if he decides to play-out his career in Montreal.
- elcabong

He was talking about the oiler players in that instance. Different situation.
2 years of term different.

End of the day I dont think anyone says bergevun is stupid for trying to manage his cap. But its certainly a risk that he might sour pk. Especially since pk already swallowed his bridge contract once. Bergevin might get those two Years at 6 or whatever and then might force himself into a ludicrous 9 or even 10 long term should pk win another norris etc.
Or even worse; pk walks regardless of the offer.

All very plausible possibilities

He was talking about the oiler players in that instance. Different situation.
2 years of term different.

End of the day I dont think anyone says bergevun is stupid for trying to manage his cap. But its certainly a risk that he might sour pk. He'll get those two Years at 6 or whatever and then might force himself into a ludicrous 9 or even ten long term should pk win another norris etc.
Or even worse; pk walks regardless of the offer.

All very plausible possibilities
- hugefemale dog77

I certainly agree with you. Subban will ultimately decide if he wants to play for the Canadiens in the future. He has the last word on this subject for sure.

Montreal might be willing to pay big bucks for a long term deal. PK might want 4 years instead. He could theoretically hit the jackpot twice then but that's just me speculating. I wish I could say we'll soon find out but doubt we will.

Exactly! A lot of people on this forum are just blowing smoke.

Montreal is doing this correctly, no argument there. If they do sign him to a multi year contract in the next few months, they'll lock him in till he's 34. At this point, they'll do the same for him they are doing with Markov, if he decides to play-out his career in Montreal.
- elcabong

Montreal just told Subban that he was only worth 5.25 million. Sure, they might not be handling arbitration in good faith, lying and only giving that number in an effort to offset what he asked for. But they still had to sit in arbitration and tell him to his face he was only worth 5.25 million and list all of his flaws.

Montreal is handling this correctly if their sole goal is to retain his services for the next 2 years at the lowest cap number possible. However, if their goal is to keep him happy enough with the organization to play for them beyond the next 2 years, this is probably one of the worst ways they could have handled it.