I mean I think Kyrou and Thomas are both excellent players. Are they $8m players (or 9.9% of the cap)? I don't know for sure because they have such a small sample size. Both of these guys have been signed while they have one year left on the RFA deal.

Here's the one thing . . .over the next 3 years, you could have probably signed both for about $6m on a bridge, and then paid $9m on the resulting contract. So technically the Blues lose money on these deals - *if* both Kyrou and Thomas continue to play at about this pace - of being excellent, but not elite players. If I were the one signing these deals, I'd have probably rolled the dice on them being excellent but not elite - because that's what I think they are (and I really like Kyrou).

Similar to Tage Thompson in Buffalo - these are players who have one good year, but Thompson is slightly more worrisome because his was inflated with a surprisingly high shooting percentage. If he settles back to a normal 10-11%, he should still be productive, but he'll be at least $2m overpaid. If he settles back to his career averages (which I don't think he does; I think he's figured it out), the contract will be a disaster.

I think some of Ken Holland's deals are made with your comment in mind. I think the Blues' deals and Sabres deals were made with an actual eye on the future.
- Monkeypunk

In the Blues case, you could be right.. They are both really good players, I would expect both to produce at around the same level. I don't agree with the Thompson deal, it has a Josh Anderson feel to it.. I don't think the contract will age well at all..

I mean I think Kyrou and Thomas are both excellent players. Are they $8m players (or 9.9% of the cap)? I don't know for sure because they have such a small sample size. Both of these guys have been signed while they have one year left on the RFA deal.

Here's the one thing . . .over the next 3 years, you could have probably signed both for about $6m on a bridge, and then paid $9m on the resulting contract. So technically the Blues lose money on these deals - *if* both Kyrou and Thomas continue to play at about this pace - of being excellent, but not elite players. If I were the one signing these deals, I'd have probably rolled the dice on them being excellent but not elite - because that's what I think they are (and I really like Kyrou).

Similar to Tage Thompson in Buffalo - these are players who have one good year, but Thompson is slightly more worrisome because his was inflated with a surprisingly high shooting percentage. If he settles back to a normal 10-11%, he should still be productive, but he'll be at least $2m overpaid. If he settles back to his career averages (which I don't think he does; I think he's figured it out), the contract will be a disaster.

I think some of Ken Holland's deals are made with your comment in mind. I think the Blues' deals and Sabres deals were made with an actual eye on the future.
- Monkeypunk

I also think its fair betting on a 23 year olds breakout year being the real thing over a 30 year old having a breakout year...

A guy like Kadri, I think that contract will be ridiculous. I don't see why he all of a sudden could figure it out at 32 and be a top C.

He is a 2C and a 30 goal 55-60 pt guy and I won't change my mind unless he does it again.

Muzzy is almost a slamdunk for a trade/dump or, at worst, a buyout next summer when his NMC goes away.

Use him this year and hope he stays healthy and has enough gas. Next summer ...buh bye ....
- The Law

no question it would be more straight-forward next summer... but do you want to run the risk of a poorly performing Muzzin or an injured Muzzin hampering the Leafs come playoffs next spring.

I wouldn't want that risk again.
And I'm guessing that Muzzin would happily retire in the desert - either Palm Springs or outside Phoenix...

or alternately Robidas Island... wherever that is located currently.

He accepted a move to # 7 in the batting order without any fuss while Vladdy seems stuck in the #2 spot.

There’s no rumours from anywhere in the organization that they want to move a guy who’s in his second year in the majors out of his position. There’s some suggestions in a hockey thread that this might be a good idea just like there was lots of talk in the same thread about getting rid of him earlier in the season.
- Canada Cup

There's a significant difference between batting order position and fielding position.

Bo wants to play SS and there were murmurs (unsubstantiated?) that he was very reluctant to move from that position in the past (the Semien quandary).

Who knows though?

That's right folks: Bo knows*

* he doesn't

no question it would be more straight-forward next summer... but do you want to run the risk of a poorly performing Muzzin or an injured Muzzin hampering the Leafs come playoffs next spring.

I wouldn't want that risk again.
And I'm guessing that Muzzin would happily retire in the desert - either Palm Springs or outside Phoenix...

or alternately Robidas Island... wherever that is located currently.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Muzzin was pretty good in playoffs.

He can handle tough mins still. While he probably isnt worth 5.6M this season he is worth close to it...next season id be more worried that he will decline more.

But I think we see him play less mins this season. Leafs have a 3rd pairing that can be relied upon.