2022-2023 NHL Misc. Thread
- Thread starter CanadaCanes
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Where he belongs. I bet we get a decent AHL scoring race between him and Noesen.
I'm thinking the coaching change might make that contract a little more palatable in a couple of years. Trotz loved that Barzal could just own possession for entire shifts by himself, and he was never the kind to be terrible troubled by the lack of outcomes. Barzal just plays it too safe, too often IMO. He doesn't have a huge shot, but he's got a decent little wrister and I'm thinking the right coaching would encourage him to drive the attack more aggressively. He's got the tools. I just think Trotz was the wrong guy to get his best out of him.
I suspect so but he clearly wants more than their available cap space. Player movement during camp has been extremely stingy this season. Maybe GMs are wising up on how to leverage other teams' bad decisions a bit.
TheBigKahuna
Well-known member
Robertson haa played 80 something games and produced quite well but looking for $8+ million per. He's not going to get it, and the Stars don't have the cap space.
cmaleski2
Well-known member
I think that is smart move by the kid and his agent and a reasonable compromise for both sides. If Robertson continues to be a 40 goal talent in the first 3 years of that contract, he can come back around and ask for huge money when the cap is much higher that it is now (ie $10+ million per).
Bridge deals aren't what they used to be back in the day. These guys get paid, big time, even in bridge deals.
Robertson's salary in year 4 of the contract is $9.3 million and he will still be an RFA after his new contract ends.
Bridge deals aren't what they used to be back in the day. These guys get paid, big time, even in bridge deals.
Robertson's salary in year 4 of the contract is $9.3 million and he will still be an RFA after his new contract ends.
He just got it ... and Barzal got similar money with WAY less production. Your best player is your best player and Dallas was in no position to argue. Their offense is bad enough with their best offensive player, same as NYI.
Agents have gotten the leverage game down to a reproduce-able template. If the guy is important enough to the team and the team has aspirations to compete, then it's really pretty simple. Shut your trap (to avoid Mitch Marner syndrome) and sign nothing until you get your number. Bridge deals offer less certainty for the player, so they've gotten more expensive. It used to be that a player would sacrifice some cash to get to full free agency earlier, but now if a guy is productive on his ELC then they just aren't playing that game anymore. Nor should they.
Teams were using ELCs to get cheap production and more and more kids are hitting the top end of rosters at a young age. There's a downside to that, which teams are just now feeling.
TheBigKahuna
Well-known member
We are approaching the point where most teams will have 1 or 2 highly paid players and then a bunch of scrubs making nickles.
The fallout from the Hockey Canada scandal is getting worse. Quebec Hockey withdrew from Hockey Canada and they’re suspending the $3 membership transfer and will only send fees related to insurance coverage. Sponsors are fleeing. Tim Horton’s, Scotiabank and Telus have all announced they’re not sponsoring any men’s team activity. Canadian Tire dropped a bomb today; they’re ending their relationship with Hockey Canada.
The Rangers and Leafs are probably the model for what you're talking about and they both have a core of 3-4 very highly paid players supported by a layer of 3-4 moderately highly compensated players with the rest being filled in with young guys or cheap vets. Both teams are also pretty good. Tampa's setup isn't all that different. It can be done.