The debate that raged in the aftermath of Richard Panik's contract extension, announced the other day, has died down.
Some people's whose judgement I respect think Panik was worth $4 million a year. And with all due respect, I and some others don't—especially not within the context of the Hawks' salary structure.
So be it. Meh, ok, but $2.8 million is a big raise for a guy who might have had a career year last year—and doesn't make the Hawks any better next year on the ice.
Panik is one of those guys, like David Rundblad and the subject of this blog, Tomas Jurco, who seem to hold a special place within Stan Bowman's heart: previously heralded prospects with other organizations who Bowman acquires for a draft pick or two, or some other prospect, and are given every chance to succeed in Chicago.
Panik worked, Rundblad, famously, didn't. Speaking with the Sun-Times Brian Hedger yesterday, Bowman had this to say about Jurco:
"I think he’s going to be way better next year, just because he’s going to be a lot more prepared and he’s a lot healthier. The opportunity’s there for him. He’s just got to take it.’’
So that can pretty much be taken that the Hawks intend to extend Jurco, an RFA this summer as well, and quite possibly at a raise over his current ('til 7/1) $900,000 yearly salary and cap hit.
Here's the issue.
I've been quite vocal that the Hawks need more size, speed, skill and physical willingness—preferably combined—in players on their roster. Jurco potentially checks some of those boxes. But unlike Panik, who showed at least flashes right away in Chicago, Jurco has shown next to nothing—as he did for at least several months at the end of his tenure in Detroit, with the team that originally drafted him.
There was, and is, scuttlebutt that Jurco was slowed by a back injury last year. And Bowman himself seems to refer to that—promising that Jurco will be healthy next season, and therefore productive.
Maybe. But we saw this tease with Rundblad as well—who Bowman seemed to want to give second chances, but third and fourth chances as well.
Rundblad never really had the excuse of a specific injury—his issue always seemed to be a certain emptiness in his chest cavity. But watching Jurco look the part skating up and down his wing—but accomplishing little—in 13 games last year, I've kind of wondered if he doesn't have the same problem as Rundblad.
Certainly, this year, we'll find out. Meanwhile, if Jurco, as an RFA, commands more than his current salary, yet again, Bowman has dipped into the Hawks' meager cap space to retain an existing asset—not acquire any new ones.
So unless you're willing to bet on a relatively big season for Jurco, something (ummmm) significantly better than 1 goal and 0 assists in 13 games, how are the Hawks getting better?
More to the point, how can they?
There's much to unfold this summer—expansion, the draft and free agency. And within any or all of those phases, the Hawks may make one or two larger moves that make a bigger money extension for Panik or Jurco look like minor blips.
And certainly, with each raise handed out, the pressure—both financial and in terms of making incremental improvement to the team—goes up on Bowman as far as that "larger, unforeseen move," ie, a trade of a bigger veteran contract.
More will be revealed. Or not.
All I have for now,
JJ