I don't think Melnyk can afford Chabot's next contract. He could not afford Karlsson, Stone, Duchene, Dzingle, Methot, Zibanejad and others.
- spatso

Sorry, I just don't buy this, especially in terms of the big-3 from last year. The team may not have been able to afford giving all of Karlsson, Duchene, and Stone the huge raises and term they got as free agents, but they absolutely did manage to afford the $20M+ they cost on their previous deals. So why exactly wouldn't they be able to afford a single player making less than half of that, especially when it's the most iconic player of the team's next generation? They're even taking an additional $12M off the books next year from Anderson, Boedker, and Hainsey, so they might even be able to justify it as a measure to reach the cap floor.

Personally, I think you can expect that Chabot will get a 2020 version of the kind of extension that Karlsson got after his rookie contract... which likely would resemble the Aho offer sheet. That said, they would be wise to maybe up the dollar value a bit to balance out some of the signing bonuses, because it's pretty clear someone thought that might be enough to make a small-market team like Carolina flinch.

This isn’t a video game. Players with potential won’t sign long term deals to end up with less money in the long term. I am not even sure why Wolanin is being mentioned in the same sentence as Stone, Hoffman, and Karlsson.

Sens got a good deal on a player that may or may not pan into a top 4 d-man. Remember we are rebuilding. This lineup will look massively different in 3-5 years. No need in flipping out about prospects currently in the system that is looking to restock. I know you love Wolanin, but his ceiling is not crazy high. I can understand more if this was a Chabot 2-year deal.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

There are a poop load of examples of guys signing long term deals, for what seemed like high AAV at the time, right out of their ELC.

Ottawa need to try and hit homeruns on deals like that, rather than bridge deals and then massive 2nd contracts.

There are a poop load of examples of guys signing long term deals, for what seemed like high AAV at the time, right out of their ELC.

Ottawa need to try and hit homeruns on deals like that, rather than bridge deals and then massive 2nd contracts.
- sensarmy_11

But why Wolanin? He’s is not a cornerstone of this franchise? He is not the difference between winning and losing.

Getting a homerun out of an ELC contract is nice, but a lot of players are learning the most money to be made is bridging and then working a new contract at free agency. All about the Benjamin’s.

But why Wolanin? He’s is not a cornerstone of this franchise? He is not the difference between winning and losing.

Getting a homerun out of an ELC contract is nice, but a lot of players are learning the most money to be made is bridging and then working a new contract at free agency. All about the Benjamin’s.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Because right now, given the precedent that’s been set, you’ll never hit a homerun on guys like Chabot or Tkachuk, so you need to get those 2nd pairing or 2nd line guys (wolanin, White, etc) signed to those good deals for term. If they had signed wolanin to a 5 year deal at 3 or 3.5 it would have been great. The promise is there, he’s been great at every level, I think he’s a safe guy to take a chance on. He’s been in the system for like 4 years or so, it’s the perfect time to lock him up. If he plays great over the next 2 years, he’ll cost double what it likely would have cost to lock him up to 5 or so years right now.

Because right now, given the precedent that’s been set, you’ll never hit a homerun on guys like Chabot or Tkachuk, so you need to get those 2nd pairing or 2nd line guys (wolanin, White, etc) signed to those good deals for term. If they had signed wolanin to a 5 year deal at 3 or 3.5 it would have been great. The promise is there, he’s been great at every level, I think he’s a safe guy to take a chance on. He’s been in the system for like 4 years or so, it’s the perfect time to lock him up. If he plays great over the next 2 years, he’ll cost double what it likely would have cost to lock him up to 5 or so years right now.
- sensarmy_11

This is just perplexing to me given his half of an NHL experience. I get what you are trying to say, I just don’t se Wolanin being a guy that entices guys to sign here for less than their worth? He could be a very good top 4 d-man, but he also could not be that. Now isn’t really the time to give long term deals to middling NHLers. This team is in search of new cornerstones to build around. This roster will be severely different in 3-5 years. That’s the nature of a rebuild.

This is just perplexing to me given his half of an NHL experience. I get what you are trying to say, I just don’t se Wolanin being a guy that entices guys to sign here for less than their worth? He could be a very good top 4 d-man, but he also could not be that. Now isn’t really the time to give long term deals to middling NHLers. This team is in search of new cornerstones to build around. This roster will be severely different in 3-5 years. That’s the nature of a rebuild.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Not talking about giving the guy 6-7 mil here. Getting these guys locked up to 3 mil deals, before they turn into 5+ mil guys, is smart.

I love wolanin’s game. I think he’s legitimately the 3rd best guy on the NHL roster, obviously behind Chabot, and IMO as good or better than demelo.

He was dominant in the NCAA, had been dominant in the AHL, and has been great in 40 games in the NHL. He has been great everywhere he plays and has pedigree. A lot of people are very high on him. I think he’s the perfect guy to take a chance on him.

We 100% need to get Chabot signed long term.

I was also thinking the other day. Ottawa has been trying to bolster our D. But we really don't have any vets back there (Except for Old Ronnie H). We also need to take on some sort of contract to get to the cap floor.

The Pens are in trouble cap wise, we could totally take advantage of that situation and pick up Letang for his remaining 3 years. They have been trying to get rid of him and Ottawa could use him as a short term replacement for Karlsson while Chabot develops and because of the situation the Pens are in, I bet we could get him cheap.

Not talking about giving the guy 6-7 mil here. Getting these guys locked up to 3 mil deals, before they turn into 5+ mil guys, is smart.

I love wolanin’s game. I think he’s legitimately the 3rd best guy on the NHL roster, obviously behind Chabot, and IMO as good or better than demelo.

He was dominant in the NCAA, had been dominant in the AHL, and has been great in 40 games in the NHL. He has been great everywhere he plays and has pedigree. A lot of people are very high on him. I think he’s the perfect guy to take a chance on him.
- sensarmy_11

Just because he has been good (dominant is a strong word) it doesn't mean it will translate into the NHL. In fact, odds are against that. Again, being good on this existing roster is absolutely nothing to be excited about.

He turns into a bust and you're locked into 5+ deal you can't shake off. Only truly gifted players should be given 5+ year deals with 40+ of NHL experience.

I think Wolanin is an ok piece for a depth defensemen but it's crazy to me to give him a long term contract right now. I'll be happy if he proves me and turns into a legitimate piece that we can build around, but way to premature to put that label on him. 2 year deal is perfect for him. It would not be perfect for a Chabot which i think is your general concern. But Wolanin is not in the same class.

I am surprised nobody is mentioning to the people who are questioning Wolanin signing and his quality. First off, he is the player who spent the most of last year playing next to Ceci, with some time with Lajoie and DeMelo. Anyone who improves Ceci's on ice numbers is good at hockey. The last guys who played with Ceci ended up being shipped out of town, shortly afterwards. Cowen, PW, Boro, Phaneuf, Methot, Oduya etc. Of that group, Ceci has only looked good for short periods of time, followed by longer periods of time he looked poor. Last year Wolanin helped pump and dump Ceci, with improved possession stats. People are also questioning why he didn't finish the season in the NHL. Well there were too many 1 way contracts in the NHL, Belleville was making a playoff push and Ottawa was pretty much out of the playoffs after the New Years. He definitely was in the top 3-4 for defenseman last year and will most likely be paired with someone like Zaitsev or Jaros to start the season

Just because he has been good (dominant is a strong word) it doesn't mean it will translate into the NHL. In fact, odds are against that. Again, being good on this existing roster is absolutely nothing to be excited about.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Exactly. I don't think anyone dislikes Wolanin, but I'd like to see him do something objectively good for a season before signing him long-term, not just moderately offset the crapiness of Ceci for a short period of time. Lajoie also looked pretty good for a couple of months last season, but I think we're all glad at this point that he still has time in the AHL to properly develop.