Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Gonchar Signed to Two-Year Contract

did i read that correctly? 2 years at 5 mil per? that's insane.

did i read that correctly? 2 years at 5 mil per? that's insane.
- allen_gamble

Loads of experience, can still skate and always a solid puck mover, takes pressure off Goli and Daley, PP specialist, cap space, retirement contract... totally a huge gamble.

Streit is licking his chops right now... ridiculous money.

Streit is licking his chops right now... ridiculous money.
- Panthers88

Gonchar is worth more on the open market

One year would be OK since they have the cap space but two is too much

Gonch will help the young dallas blueline,he is like having another coach and can still give some decent mins.The two years and money are not that big a deal to a rebuilding cap floor team like dallas good move

He did a fantastic job for Ottawa this year. They would not have made the playoffs without him.

That said, he is 39 and not going to get better. There is a reason why Ottawa traded him rather than give him the 2 year deal he was looking for, despite the strong season he had for them.

My guess is his play will regress and unfortunately the pricey contract will make him a target of the boo-birds in Dallas.

But I wish him well. Classy player and person.

Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: Gonchar Signed to Two-Year Contract
- Bill_Meltzer

Yet another example of a GM wasting money on an over the hill Vet.
What a stupid contract.

Gonch will help the young dallas blueline,he is like having another coach and can still give some decent mins.The two years and money are not that big a deal to a rebuilding cap floor team like dallas good move
- top shelf 15

I agree. This gives the Stars flexibility in handling the blue line prospects in the system as well as future trades that might become available. I have no problem with this signing for a 6th round pick.

Yet another example of a GM wasting money on an over the hill Vet.
What a stupid contract.
- Iggysbff

Really Edmonton could use a decent vet or 10 to help their kids yet they will just throw 18 year olds into the fire unsupported

Yet another example of a GM wasting money on an over the hill Vet.
What a stupid contract.
- Iggysbff

Edmonton can't even have a defence men of this caliber...

I agree. This gives the Stars flexibility in handling the blue line prospects in the system as well as future trades that might become available. I have no problem with this signing for a 6th round pick.
- jerryb

Yep he will buy development time for the kids still learning their craft in the lower leagues,and help the young ones in the nhl now .He did us good service in ottawa and will do the same in dallas.Nothing but a class act in gonch i wish him well

Really Edmonton could use a decent vet or 10 to help their kids yet they will just throw 18 year olds into the fire unsupported

- top shelf 15

Of course Edmonton could use a Gonchar. But that does not make this contract any less Ridiculous. Why did we have a lock out again? Yet another aged Vet getting a contract that the team will soon regret. Why would Dallas purge all their "vets" if they believe they are so important, then go sign this deal. Jagr and Morrow would have been better to keep for less money than this.

I wanted Nill in MTL, thank god that didn't happen. Not a good sign for things to come.

Of course Edmonton could use a Gonchar. But that does not make this contract any less Ridiculous. Why did we have a lock out again? Yet another aged Vet getting a contract that the team will soon regret. Why would Dallas purge all their "vets" if they believe they are so important, then go sign this deal. Jagr and Morrow would have been better to keep for less money than this.
- Iggysbff

The players are going to get paid ,no matter how much we think some of these deals are nuts.The league is now generating profits in the billions and the players have a big part in that

Of course Edmonton could use a Gonchar. But that does not make this contract any less Ridiculous. Why did we have a lock out again? Yet another aged Vet getting a contract that the team will soon regret. Why would Dallas purge all their "vets" if they believe they are so important, then go sign this deal. Jagr and Morrow would have been better to keep for less money than this.
- Iggysbff

Its for 2 years dude. It isnt gonna handicap them what so ever. It isnt like they gave him 5mil a year for fiive years or more. This contract has nothing to do with a lockout. It isnt any worse than giving Hemmer 5mil for showing nothing. Sure he's younger but far less valuable to his team.

I'd sooner pay him 1 year 6 million, overpay like the stars did Jagr then flip him at the deadline for a first rounder

That was a shrewd move by Nieuwendyk if it was his plan all along

2 years means you aint trading him at next years deadline

Awful deal. 10 mill over two years is not worth the "mentorship" attributes he'll bring. Glad he is gone from Ottawa. Had some bright moments here, but overshadowed by a lot of terrible moments. Seeya Gonc.

Gonchar got his market value, especially in a depleted UFA market. Getting a potential UFA Dman who can still play a lot of minutes means "overpaying". It's just the reality. The two-year deal also gives flexibility to potentially trade Robidas at deadline.

Of course Edmonton could use a Gonchar. But that does not make this contract any less Ridiculous. Why did we have a lock out again? Yet another aged Vet getting a contract that the team will soon regret. Why would Dallas purge all their "vets" if they believe they are so important, then go sign this deal. Jagr and Morrow would have been better to keep for less money than this.
- Iggysbff

The Stars would not have been able to keep Jagr at less money, and he wasn't inclined to re-sign. Also, the cost of D-men is sky-high in the league right now. A guy like Hainsey is going to get a deal that people are going to squawk about being a huge overpayment, too. It's just where the market is right now, and the lockout didn't change it despite the cap ceiling/floor going down (for at least one year).

Gonchar got his market value, especially in a depleted UFA market. Getting a potential UFA Dman who can still play a lot of minutes means "overpaying". It's just the reality. The two-year deal also gives flexibility to potentially trade Robidas at deadline.
- bmeltzer

Trade Robidas to us, Bill?

5 million a year??? Wow, that's a lot. I thought it was 5 million for 2 years at first so it seemed like a steal at the time.

Does anyone know if the contract includes any sort of a NTC? If not, then it may not be as bad for a rebuilding team since they can trade him during the 2015 TDL as a playoff rental. That way they get him as a mentor for the young guys for a season and a half, and get back an asset before he likely retires. Assuming that the Stars won;t be in the playoff hunt of course.


Hard not to call this an overpayment though(and yes, I know that the Stars are a floor team).

5 million a year??? Wow, that's a lot. I thought it was 5 million for 2 years at first so it seemed like a steal at the time.
- Thehabsfan93

I remembering hearing Ken Holland (I think) talk about how puck moving dmen and salaries. You never pay more than say 3.5 or something for a stellar dman unless he can move the puck. A guy Sergei Gonchar would never have settled for less than 4-4.5 and if that was for 1 year, he'd be playing in the KHL.

It's true- he played great here in Ottawa, especially with Karlsson & Cowen out. He is also a great leader. But in against the Pens it showed that against fast teams he will get exposed. What will he bring to Dallas? Tremendous poise. Superb puck handling ability, (atm) not defensively liable instead an active stick. Speed my guess will be the same but acceleration, endurance will be an issue.

Wish him the best in Dallas. "With Erik Karlsson, Jared Cowen, Eric Gryba, Mark Borowiecki, Marc Methor, Chris Phillips, and Patrick Wiercioch, the Senators are well stocked defensively"- Ottawa Sun. I don't know if we're "stocked" but certainly was the time for #55 to depart