Anyone else see Davidson's presser about Johansen.... "He announced that the team had offered Johansen $6 million over two years and $32 million over six years (which JD correctly said is more than Jamie Benn makes) and $46 million over eight years. Which is astronomical money for a player that has one standout season to his credit."

Johansen is the real deal IMO but his agent needs to be fired if they turned down those offers. If he holds RJ out then they better see a long term deal or RJ better play lights out when he comes back. Negotiating like this could seriously damage interest for him elsewhere down the line.
- tredbrta

JD must really like the guy to throw that much at him this soon.

He's one weird looking guy with that odd shaped head of his.
- EKolb13

I remember seeing a story on him and they showed his legs...which are like pipe cleaners. He needs to make a burger run.

I remember seeing a story on him and they showed his legs...which are like pipe cleaners. He needs to make a burger run.
- philco28

It just baffles me that a guy as ugly as him can score a wife like this: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1715275/

JD must really like the guy to throw that much at him this soon.
- philco28

Well the idea in those longer deals are to postpone having to payout a big UFA bankroll until the team actually jells as a contender.

I have my favorite examples ala Logan Couture on development and
EVANDER KANE on NOT overpaying in the RFA years for on the job training.
You bridge them, period - even if it is a year or two deal, because as much as you see the upward spiral, so many things can send these guys to early leveling off.
They get the money, start thinking after losses I got paid, stop worrying about being the best player, the leagues best scorer, and the settle in before the have the complete package TO play a TEAM first season / playoff.

It just baffles me that a guy as ugly as him can score a wife like this: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1715275/
- EKolb13

Bank account likely helped

Well the idea in those longer deals are to postpone having to payout a big UFA bankroll until the team actually jells as a contender.

I have my favorite examples ala Logan Couture on development and
EVANDER KANE on NOT overpaying in the RFA years for on the job training.
You bridge them, period - even if it is a year or two deal, because as much as you see the upward spiral, so many things can send these guys to early leveling off.
They get the money, start thinking after losses I got paid, stop worrying about being the best player, the leagues best scorer, and the settle in before the have the complete package TO play a TEAM first season / playoff.
- wiz1901

Good stuff Wiz

Bank account likely helped
- philco28

Maybe. But I would imagine that her gig pays fairly decently as well.

Bank account likely helped
- philco28

There are much richer men in Hollywood than Miller - and plenty of them.

There are much richer men in Hollywood than Miller - and plenty of them.
- StLBravesFan

Heard he's good with the paddle AND glove hand . . .

There are much richer men in Hollywood than Miller - and plenty of them.
- StLBravesFan

Indeed.

JD must really like the guy to throw that much at him this soon.
- philco28

It's going to be really interesting to see how this Johansen situation plays out. You'd have to think this might set the bar for Saad's next contract.

Anyone else see Davidson's presser about Johansen.... "He announced that the team had offered Johansen $6 million over two years and $32 million over six years (which JD correctly said is more than Jamie Benn makes) and $46 million over eight years. Which is astronomical money for a player that has one standout season to his credit."

Johansen is the real deal IMO but his agent needs to be fired if they turned down those offers. If he holds RJ out then they better see a long term deal or RJ better play lights out when he comes back. Negotiating like this could seriously damage interest for him elsewhere down the line.
- tredbrta

I don't see what Davidson had to gain by essentially negotiating in the media. The CBA gives him most of the cards when dealing with an RFA.

One side or the other will crack sooner than later - either when Johansen realizes he doesn't have a contract and won't ever get one in the amounts he is asking for. OR when the Blue Jackets are out on the West Coast 10 games into the season with a 2-8 record without Johansen in their lineup.

Strong offer by the Jackets. If I was them I would close off all of the negotiations with a message that you've seen the team's best offer, no more meetings unless it is to sign the deal. And nothing more said to the press.

Cam Barker invited to camp. Could be a possible 7/8 for a small contract. Big guy with a good shot. He just fell apart mentally for reasons unknown. A hawks reunion could jump start him. Either way can't wait for camp to start

It's going to be really interesting to see how this Johansen situation plays out. You'd have to think this might set the bar for Saad's next contract.
- EKolb13

A 6'3" #1 center like RJ holds far more cards in the negotiation game than a winger like Saad.

A comparable for #20 is a player like Max Paccioretty.

Davidson seems to be a straight shooter. Overhardt (the agent) promptly went out and insulted JD's upbringing in an interview. Overhardt's bio says he started as a labor lawyer so I can see where his tactics come from. He represents a slew of Canucks. I wonder if he is trying to find RJ a path to VC????

Those offers were very generous off of one good year. Could be an agenda behind turning them down beyond just getting more $$.

Would love to see the next face to face meeting between Kurt and JD. JD might give Kurty boy a lesson on how a blocker can be used to damage a kidney or some other body part.
- tredbrta

Definitely comes across as a straight shooter, earnest, and more forthcoming/honest than most in the business. I had the true pleasure of having a couple of dozen conversations with him when he was working for St. Louis. Some of the interaction we had with him and Dave Checketts in Sweden was priceless, so much fun.

It just baffles me that a guy as ugly as him can score a wife like this: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1715275/
- EKolb13

Miller kind of looks like Achmed.....The gaunt look he has makes him look sickly at times.

Well the idea in those longer deals are to postpone having to payout a big UFA bankroll until the team actually jells as a contender.

I have my favorite examples ala Logan Couture on development and
EVANDER KANE on NOT overpaying in the RFA years for on the job training.
You bridge them, period - even if it is a year or two deal, because as much as you see the upward spiral, so many things can send these guys to early leveling off.
They get the money, start thinking after losses I got paid, stop worrying about being the best player, the leagues best scorer, and the settle in before the have the complete package TO play a TEAM first season / playoff.
- wiz1901

Exactly why I appreciate Armstrong's approach in St Louis.

Heard he's good with the paddle AND glove hand . . .
- savvyone-1

Used to be you mean...

A 6'3" #1 center like RJ holds far more cards in the negotiation game than a winger like Saad.

A comparable for #20 is a player like Max Paccioretty.
- RickJ

That's fair.

I don't see what Davidson had to gain by essentially negotiating in the media. The CBA gives him most of the cards when dealing with an RFA.
- RickJ

JD gained fan support or at least was attempting to gain fan support which matters more in a small market like Columbus.

Used to be you mean...
- stljam

That's not what she said!

That's not what she said!
- savvyone-1

he was very good about letting other people finish last year....

JD gained fan support or at least was attempting to gain fan support which matters more in a small market like Columbus.
- stljam

Waste of time if that was JD's intention. Fans never influence anything in contract negotiations. Especially the 250 of them in Columbus who might be thinking about hockey at this time of year while all of the rest are obsessed with with OU football.

Waste of time if that was JD's intention. Fans never influence anything in contract negotiations. Especially the 250 of them in Columbus who might be thinking about hockey at this time of year while all of the rest are obsessed with with OU football.
- RickJ

Wrong point about fan interest. The only fan interest JD cares about is corporate support in the community, season ticket holders and merchandise sales. All of that matters in a market like Columbus. His statements had less to do about the negotiation and much more about fan support.

Cam Barker invited to camp. Could be a possible 7/8 for a small contract. Big guy with a good shot. He just fell apart mentally for reasons unknown. A hawks reunion could jump start him. Either way can't wait for camp to start


- z1990z

No risk seeing if he's got anything, but he'd really have to surprise to get even an AHL deal. Guy has been washed up for a while.

Funny bit though that in the Barker-Leddy+ trade, Fletcher only got less than 100 total games of Barker before they got sick of him and got little else.

Say what you will about Leddy (and I tend to say a decent amount...), but that has still been one of Stanley's best trades.