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Leaf Rumours

I like Vinny a lot, I really do, but let's not go overboard with what he is at this point of his career.

He is a 33 years old vet who, for the past few seasons, has been a 70 points pace center. Playing on a very bad TB team, yes. Not having a lot of quality wingers to play with, sure. But I can't expect him to play at a much better pace than 70 points.

So he's not the PPG center he used to be, but 70 points is not too shabby. Sure.

Then there's his injury. Past couple seasons he's managed to play ~ 60 games per year, and it is reasonable to expect his health will only degrade as he gets into his mid and late 30's.

So in all likelihood, he' a top 2 center who can give you ~ 60 games a season, ~ 45 points in those 60 games.

He might not even be the #1 center on this team this season, never mind next season when Kadri's got another season under him. So how much do you want to pay him really, especially with a few young players hitting RFA / UFA in the next few years. You want to save some cap space for that.

~ 5M x 3-4 years is as much as I'd go for Vinny.
 
The most I would offer Vinny is a 2 year/8M contract and here's why:

1. The cap is likely going down this season
2. Vinny already has a fresh $32M in his pocket after being bought out
3. His best days are behind him
4. Injury concerns, a 2 year deal makes it easier to flip him off if things go sour
5. 2 years gives a guy like Kadri/Colborne to round out their games without having to be pressured into the #1C role.
 
number17 said:
I like Vinny a lot, I really do, but let's not go overboard with what he is at this point of his career.

He is a 33 years old vet who, for the past few seasons, has been a 70 points pace center. Playing on a very bad TB team, yes. Not having a lot of quality wingers to play with, sure. But I can't expect him to play at a much better pace than 70 points.
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do you know how many centres there are who you can expect that from?
 
Reimer isn't all that wanted by MLSE or anyone else. After that horrible choke and the acquisition of Bernier, a far superior talent, lets see which Reimer shows up, the guy who backs up into the net and has the glove hand of my great grandfather, or the guy who can occasionally stone a team to no goals. I hope the latter, but Toronto is a tough burg man to play in.

And Lecavellier, MLSE can certainly afford to outbid everyone else and just buy the fawker out after he really starts to falter. Personally I think signing him is probably going to bury someone, I think he is very close to declining.

And is it just me or Lecavellier starting to look very,very strange in the face. A Bruce Jenner like thing?

And is it just me or does anyone else think MLSE would rather eat their left testicle than buy someone out for large. Philly, Ed Snider? Wow that man bites a bullet to advance his hockey team, what the hell does he do for a living to be able to buy out Bryz?? Gutsy financial move man.
 
LeafOfFaith said:
I dunno, I want Vinny on this team, but I'm not in love with giving him a huge deal for long term.

6 years is a ton, isn't it? It's tough to believe he has more than 3 very good years left.
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players of vinny's calibre are usually good into their late 30s. I don't see any reason to expect him to fall of a cliff at 35.
 
He won't fall off a cliff perhaps, but say in three years he's good for only 45 points or so. Are we cool paying two or three more years for similar or further declining production?
 
Vinny isn't on some steady decline. He simply lost his top spot and minutes to Stamkos the last 5yrs.


Vinny career scoring paces:

18: 28pt pace (13:40)
19: 69pt pace (19:18)
20: 62pt pace (19:57)
21: 40pt pace (17:09)
22: 80pt pace (19:33) --- plyf: 45pt pace (22:36)
23: 67pt pace (18:04) --- plyf: 57pt pace (19:39)
25: 77pt pace (20:08) --- plyf: 66pt pace (22:17)
26: 108pt pace (22:36) - plyf: 96pt pace (26:29)
27: 93pt pace (22:57)
28: 71pt pace (20:15)
29: 70pt pace (19:47)
30: 68pt pace (18:27) --- plyf: 87pt pace (19:52)
31: 63pt pace (18:56)
32: 67pt pace (17:53)

He's lost the insane icetime he was getting before Stamkos got there (not to mention he lost St.Louis, too), but in each of the last 5yrs he's produced at a similar rate - at a 65-70pt pace or so.

I don't see a steadily declining player there at all, and I'd imagine giving him topline minutes and linemates back might even juice his numbers back up....even though I'd be more than happy with just a 65-70pt type pace out of him.
 
I didn't say he has been declining (even though he arguably has a little, which is normal), but naturally we should expect that three years from now he should be in a bit of a decline. If he's a 45 point player at that time, it's a tough pill to swallow paying $5M or $6M for that.

I'm playing devil's advocate mostly. A large and long contract scares me somewhat, but regardless, it would be huge to see a true veteran first liner centering Kessel and JVR for a few years.

I just wonder if Vinny is even giving us any consideration at all, considering the spotlight, his hometown, and the other offers that will be out there.
 
Metalleaf said:
Darren Dreger
I have had ongoing discussions with Vinny Lecavalier's camp. From what I hear it appears he's leaning towards Detroit or St. Louis.
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And there you go.

Upon seeing that, I just had a chill that the Wings will yet again be the landing spot for a guy like this. ****ers.
 
Where did you hear this? If it's true (key word if) then Bozak's a bloody and greedy moron, no way is he worth $5M/year and no way is any team going to shell out that kind of money for him. Gurantee u on a contender he barely scratches the ice let alone play the top C role...... Nice knowing ya Bozak.
 
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