How much do you offer Cullen?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Also offering him what you want to give him and what you think is fair is fine but this thread is about what you think Cullen will take and explaining why he takes it in lieu of going on the open market. Does Cullen take 3 X 3 when he likely gets more in the open market?

Yeah, as always, this is the real question.

1.What does Cullen think he can get?

2.Does he want to be here?

Apparently he does want to be here, so that's fantastic. He's worth a solid 3 million, but not too much more, am I wrong? 40ish points a year, great leader, playoff performer, but not a 'star' for marketing etc. 3.3 is the most I'd pay and I LOVE this guy.

You?

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Also offering him what you want to give him and what you think is fair is fine but this thread is about what you think Cullen will take and explaining why he takes it in lieu of going on the open market. Does Cullen take 3 X 3 when he likely gets more in the open market?

He makes it seem like it will be a family-oriented decision more than anything. If minor hockey is the priority, I think a longer term and NTC would be the goal.

N4L wrote:4 years at 3-3.5 mil, I would do that no problem. This guy doesnt play a physical game and IMO is a lot like Alfi in the sense the tools he has wont be effect by age, at least not in the time between 33-37.

Cullen is somewhat of a leader, plays in all situation, can play all 3 forward positions, and is a playoff performer. I would spare no cent in signing this guy especially since Ottawa will be working with a cheap blueline for the next 3 or 4 years as well.

You cant pay Kovalev 5 mil a season then say Cullen isnt worth 3 plus. Kovalev comes off the books next year (I still like the Kovalev signing) and there will be a ton of cap space.

Letting Cullen go over an extra year or 1/2 a mil IMO would be a huge mistake. There isnt a line Cullen doesnt fit on or wont make better. He makes the PP and PK better. Simply he makes every facet of The Sens game, better.

1st bold = good compromise = sign that contract, good for both sides.

2nd bold = Murray stated that Regin wouldn't be where he is now without Kovalev. So we all know what Kovalev can do on the ice when he wants, but it's the off-ice leadership that's showing now.

SpezDispenser wrote:Goodness gracious...no chance I would do 5 years @ 3.5 per year when he's 35, not to mention that that's pushing it for Cullen.

I would say 3.3 X 3, but preferably he's smart enough to realize that a 3 X 3 is quite fair and the extra money can be used to make his team stronger.

So 3 X 3 or Stillman money (3.3 X 3) if he pushes really hard.

I don't think a 3x3 will satisfy him, as I expect Minnesota to make a strong pitch. They are in need of 2 to 4 forwards (they do have a bunch of RFA's though). I would offer 3x4, in fact I could be convinced to play the Lou Lam. game and offer him 10 or 11 million over 4 or 5 years where the last one or two years are 1 million each. He's 33 right now so that would give him the option of retiring and allowing the buyout of the last two years to be 2 million over 4 (or 6 I never remember the formula).

Cullen has to be a top priority for Ottawa right now, at least in my eyes. Not knowing how either Kovalev or Michalek will return from their major surgeries, and with Alfie getting older he is exactly the type of player to insulate Fisher, Philips..etc for leadership.

One last note, holy crap, is capgeek right in that Atlanta only has 6 forwards and 6 dmen signed for next year? Snap if that's true they need 2 goalies (and a starter at that) .

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:Also offering him what you want to give him and what you think is fair is fine but this thread is about what you think Cullen will take and explaining why he takes it in lieu of going on the open market. Does Cullen take 3 X 3 when he likely gets more in the open market?

Yeah, as always, this is the real question.

1.What does Cullen think he can get?

2.Does he want to be here?

Apparently he does want to be here, so that's fantastic. He's worth a solid 3 million, but not too much more, am I wrong? 40ish points a year, great leader, playoff performer, but not a 'star' for marketing etc. 3.3 is the most I'd pay and I LOVE this guy.

You?

You're not wrong, you're not right. Just like Neil. what is Cullen worth to The Sens? Is Neil worth 2.1 mil to Bruins? No, he isnt, he is def worth 2.1 mil to The Sens.

Is Cullen worth 3.5 mil to The Caps? No, no shot he is. Is he worth 3.5 mil to Ottawa, I think so. He fills a need and a big one at that. Like I said in my last post, dont spare any cent getting this guy signed because The Sens NEED him.

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:4 years at 3-3.5 mil, I would do that no problem. This guy doesnt play a physical game and IMO is a lot like Alfi in the sense the tools he has wont be effect by age, at least not in the time between 33-37.

Cullen is somewhat of a leader, plays in all situation, can play all 3 forward positions, and is a playoff performer. I would spare no cent in signing this guy especially since Ottawa will be working with a cheap blueline for the next 3 or 4 years as well.

You cant pay Kovalev 5 mil a season then say Cullen isnt worth 3 plus. Kovalev comes off the books next year (I still like the Kovalev signing) and there will be a ton of cap space.

Letting Cullen go over an extra year or 1/2 a mil IMO would be a huge mistake. There isnt a line Cullen doesnt fit on or wont make better. He makes the PP and PK better. Simply he makes every facet of The Sens game, better.

1st bold = good compromise = sign that contract, good for both sides.

2nd bold = Murray stated that Regin wouldn't be where he is now without Kovalev. So we all know what Kovalev can do on the ice when he wants, but it's the off-ice leadership that's showing now.

Hey man, I like Kovalev and Ive defended him pretty much the whole time besides here and there where I was frustrted, but I never questioned or ripped the signing. Im just saying, you have to pay Cullen what he wants, if he gets 4 mil over 3 years, I would do that too.

Devo wrote:
I don't think a 3x3 will satisfy him, as I expect Minnesota to make a strong pitch. They are in need of 2 to 4 forwards (they do have a bunch of RFA's though). I would offer 3x4, in fact I could be convinced to play the Lou Lam. game and offer him 10 or 11 million over 4 or 5 years where the last one or two years are 1 million each. He's 33 right now so that would give him the option of retiring and allowing the buyout of the last two years to be 2 million over 4 (or 6 I never remember the formula).

Cullen has to be a top priority for Ottawa right now, at least in my eyes. Not knowing how either Kovalev or Michalek will return from their major surgeries, and with Alfie getting older he is exactly the type of player to insulate Fisher, Philips..etc for leadership.

One last note, holy crap, is capgeek right in that Atlanta only has 6 forwards and 6 dmen signed for next year? Snap if that's true they need 2 goalies (and a starter at that) .

They have Pavelec though, he's their young goalie of the future. He must be an RFA if he isn't showing up, but they'll sign him.

The 6 forwards is a huge issue, whew. Luckily for them their D is set pretty much, but yeah, they need forwards.

Now...who wants to play in Atlanta?

So in a cap world, 3.3 X 4 is the dollar amount we're okay with? Can Cullen get more elsewhere? And again, does he really want to play here?

Those are the final two questions. Answer those like...today...and you can announce the signing tomorrow. And why wouldn't you want to take care of this right away, this guy is a BIG piece for us.

That's why I said 3.5 over 5 years front loaded. I don't think he approaches anywhere close to that term on the open market and he gets his cash up front. That is a deal he'd sign and 3.5 is still a reasonable cap hit. Also the deal is signed before he's 35 so if he retires it's off the books.

Keep in mind that wouldn't be the first offer I put on the table. That would be what I'd be willing to offer to keep him if that's what it took. I'd of course start with a 3 year term worth 3.2 to get the conversation started and would stop at 5 years 3.5 front loaded.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:That's why I said 3.5 over 5 years front loaded. I don't think he approaches anywhere close to that term on the open market and he gets his cash up front. That is a deal he'd sign and 3.5 is still a reasonable cap hit. Also the deal is signed before he's 35 so if he retires it's off the books.

I wouldn't 'cave' often as a GM - I'd walk Volchenkov to the door and say thanks a lot. But...if Cullen is pushing for a 5 year, 3.5 and claims that he can get it elsewhere...I would seriously think about taking him up on that.

I think that's almost half a million more than he's actually worth, but he might be the most important player to have besides Phillips going forward. He's gonna be the guy who helps Alfie with the leadership role in the room and with the younger players (even the quasi young players like Spezza).

I would hate to pay Cullen that much, but I would. If that makes any sense.

Yup, HUGE. If you can sign Cullen you can probably deal Foligno based on what was seen from him this year. Remember, Foligno isnt a player Murray drafted and while sitll young, he may very well go in another direction with his forward.

Foligno feel out of favour and found himself on the 4th line a lot of the year. Do you pay a 21 year old 4th liner anything over 1mil? IMO, along with Lee, he is one guy that could possibly be moved.

If Cullen is signed I think he takes that spot that Foligno was penciled in for the future.

Michalek/Spezza/Regin
Alfi/Fisher/Cullen
Neil/Kelly/Ruutu
Smith/Winchester/Bass

Wow, I cant even fit Kovalev in there...

SeawaySensFan wrote:Eleventy-seven Gillion dollars for infinity.

You really are Charles Wang!

SpezDispenser wrote:

N4L wrote:4 years at 3-3.5 mil, I would do that no problem. This guy doesnt play a physical game and IMO is a lot like Alfi in the sense the tools he has wont be effect by age, at least not in the time between 33-37.

Cullen is somewhat of a leader, plays in all situation, can play all 3 forward positions, and is a playoff performer. I would spare no cent in signing this guy especially since Ottawa will be working with a cheap blueline for the next 3 or 4 years as well.

You cant pay Kovalev 5 mil a season then say Cullen isnt worth 3 plus. Kovalev comes off the books next year (I still like the Kovalev signing) and there will be a ton of cap space.

Letting Cullen go over an extra year or 1/2 a mil IMO would be a huge mistake. There isnt a line Cullen doesnt fit on or wont make better. He makes the PP and PK better. Simply he makes every facet of The Sens game, better.

1st bold = good compromise = sign that contract, good for both sides.

2nd bold = Murray stated that Regin wouldn't be where he is now without Kovalev. So we all know what Kovalev can do on the ice when he wants, but it's the off-ice leadership that's showing now.

I think he was refering to : he wouldn't be where he is without Kovalevs injury

N4L wrote:Yup, HUGE. If you can sign Cullen you can probably deal Foligno based on what was seen from him this year. Remember, Foligno isnt a player Murray drafted and while sitll young, he may very well go in another direction with his forward.

Foligno feel out of favour and found himself on the 4th line a lot of the year. Do you pay a 21 year old 4th liner anything over 1mil? IMO, along with Lee, he is one guy that could possibly be moved.

If Cullen is signed I think he takes that spot that Foligno was penciled in for the future.

Michalek/Spezza/Regin
Alfi/Fisher/Cullen
Neil/Kelly/Ruutu
Smith/Winchester/Bass

Wow, I cant even fit Kovalev in there...

Foligno and a pick for MPS

N4L wrote:Yup, HUGE. If you can sign Cullen you can probably deal Foligno based on what was seen from him this year. Remember, Foligno isnt a player Murray drafted and while sitll young, he may very well go in another direction with his forward.

Foligno feel out of favour and found himself on the 4th line a lot of the year. Do you pay a 21 year old 4th liner anything over 1mil? IMO, along with Lee, he is one guy that could possibly be moved.

If Cullen is signed I think he takes that spot that Foligno was penciled in for the future.

Michalek/Spezza/Regin
Alfi/Fisher/Cullen
Neil/Kelly/Ruutu
Smith/Winchester/Bass

Wow, I cant even fit Kovalev in there...

Sadly I think both Bass and Smith play in the minors and it looks more like this. And that's assuming Foligno is traded.

Alfie/Spezza/Michalek
Kovalev/Fisher/Cullen
Butler (roster spot guaranteed)/Winchester/Regin(he'll be top six before mid season)
Neil/Kelly/Ruutu

Haha, noooo shot, maybe for Edmonton's 2nd round pick but that's about it. Foligno was drafted 28th and probably hasnt done much to improve that rating. He's worth about the 31st overall pick.

DirtyDave wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:Eleventy-seven Gillion dollars for infinity.

You really are Charles Wang!

Yeah but check out the cap hit.