General Hockey Talk - Injuries, signings, factoids + other news from around the league

I've softened my stance on Subban but still don't consider myself a big fan of his, and while I cheered on the Habs against the Bees and Rags in the playoffs, I'd hardly say I'm a Habs fan. That said, I don't see this situation as anything positive. Sorry, I don't need another fanbase to experience anguish and despair for me to have a good day.

Well, maybe Leafs Nation, but that's different.

Anyhow, if you read Elliotte's latest it certainly sounds like Subban wanted $8.5M and the Habs were offering $6.5M, using Karlsson as a comparable. If Subban expects anyone to think he is the best defenseman in the league at the tender age of 26 or whatever he is, then he is slightly delusional. But if he wants to argue he's in the top-five I'll listen to the argument. But just because you have the highest salary does not mean you are the best given where the cap is and where it is going. The last guy to sign will always have a higher ceiling simply because of the moving cap. So if the Habs think he's comparable to Karlsson, then they need to take that $6.5M and slide up relative to where the cap is going to be, and not necessarily at the start of the contract.

If this ends up being a one-year arbitration-awarded contract then this will be bad all around, whether he ends up in Montreal or elsewhere. Situations like this are what lead to record arbitration awards, record contracts and rising ticket prices and, eventually, another lockout. Contracts like Karlsson's are what keeps things slightly more sane.

Before anyone posts anything about Paul George, let me just say that I would appreciate any pictures (especially animated GIFs) to be placed inside spoiler tags. I do *not* need to see that.

Well, that was a highly entertaining read:
http://thehockeywriters.com/30-bold-predictions-for-the-upcoming-nhl-season/

Some made me laugh out loud:

Teams that need defensive help at the deadline will come calling for Mike Green.

- I don't think that was meant to be funny.

Some had me shaking my head:

Even with the breakout performance of PK Subban, they couldn’t overcome the loss of Price.

- Subban had a sub-par season; the breakout was the lockout-shortened year.

Some had me saying "Wha...?"

With everybody else in the conference improving, this to me is an easy call.  The bold prediction here is that they will jump Buffalo and land the number one pick in the 2015 draft.  What a story that will be, since McDavid is from Newmarket, Ontario.  He would land somewhat close to his hometown.

- Everybody else improving?
- number one pick -- well, at least that's intriguing
- Newmarket is "somewhat close"?  As compared to what, Toronto? Buffalo?

wprager wrote:Before anyone posts anything about Paul George, let me just say that I would appreciate any pictures (especially animated GIFs) to be placed inside spoiler tags. I do *not* need to see that.

Yeah, that was pretty gruesome. Not for the faint of heart.

Subban signs 8-year deal in Montreal.

Bobby Mac: Subban's eight year deal with MTL has an AAV of $9M. #TSN

Jeezus Diddle.

https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/495639325418471424

shabbs wrote:Bobby Mac: Subban's eight year deal with MTL has an AAV of $9M. #TSN

  That should tie them up a bit. Right now they have about $10M to sign 8 players next off-season.

This went well.   

Diddle yeah, good deal for the Sens

spader wrote:

shabbs wrote:Bobby Mac: Subban's eight year deal with MTL has an AAV of $9M. #TSN

  That should tie them up a bit. Right now they have about $10M to sign 8 players next off-season.

This went well.   

Cap is going up. They'll have around $20m to spend.

Actually they only need to sign 6, and with the exception of a backup, all of the ones they need to resign are their own RFAs. They are not going to have any problems capwise. Then the next season a lot of high priced forwards are UFA and they won't be keeping most of them (Bourque, Prust, Parenteau).

Wow, that's quite the deal.  I guess what they were apart on was not salary but term.  Subban wanted $8.5m but on a short term, so he could sign an even bigger deal when the cap for even higher.  This is a fantastic deal for him, a hard one for the Habs, but one they had to do.  Mistake was made two years ago.

wprager wrote:

spader wrote:

shabbs wrote:Bobby Mac: Subban's eight year deal with MTL has an AAV of $9M. #TSN

  That should tie them up a bit. Right now they have about $10M to sign 8 players next off-season.

This went well.   

Cap is going up.  They'll have around $20m to spend.  

Actually they only need to sign 6, and with the exception of a backup, all of the ones they need to resign are their own RFAs.  They are not going to have any problems capwise.  Then the next season a lot of high priced forwards are UFA and they won't be keeping most of them (Bourque, Prust, Parenteau).

I didn't consider the rising cap. Still, resigning Galchenyuk and Gallagher is going to be expensive.

In three years this deal will look normal. Just think what Karlsson will command on his next one...

Crazy.

shabbs wrote:In three years this deal will look normal. Just think what Karlsson will command on his next one...

Crazy.

just pay the man

My goodness. Bishop just CASHED in with a 2 year, $11.9 million contract extension, beginning after the upcoming season.

That's some serious coin. Good for him.

shabbs wrote:In three years this deal will look normal. Just think what Karlsson will command on his next one...

Crazy.

No need to even think about that one. Who knows what happens in five years

spader wrote:

wprager wrote:

spader wrote:

shabbs wrote:Bobby Mac: Subban's eight year deal with MTL has an AAV of $9M. #TSN

  That should tie them up a bit. Right now they have about $10M to sign 8 players next off-season.

This went well.   

Cap is going up.  They'll have around $20m to spend.  

Actually they only need to sign 6, and with the exception of a backup, all of the ones they need to resign are their own RFAs.  They are not going to have any problems capwise.  Then the next season a lot of high priced forwards are UFA and they won't be keeping most of them (Bourque, Prust, Parenteau).

I didn't consider the rising cap. Still, resigning Galchenyuk and Gallagher is going to be expensive.

Galchenyuk, yes. Players like Gallagher never get paid much. But Bourque, Prust, Parenteau are all making way more than the players that will replace them.