@TSNBobMcKenzie Matt Stajan has agreed to terms with Calgary Flames on four-yr extension worth about $3.5 million per yr. Was going to be UFA on July 1.
about 2 years ago
Karina
148 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Poor Jerome Iginla.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:00 PM EST reply actions
yeah
I bet he’s pissed he’s put up 6 points in seven games since Stajan got there….
The Maple Leaf Outsider - How I Make Unemployment Bearable.
by Pamplemousse on Mar 1, 2010 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
or that he won’t have his stud #1 center to play with for another four years.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously now
How many "stud’ centremen are there in the NHL exactly? Y’know, guy’s who can attain a point-a-game pace or better? About 10 or 15 guys maybe? So, not enough to go around. And if you can’t get one of those guys, and you aren’t developing one in your system, what exactly are you supposed to do? Create one out of clay?
No, what you do in that situation is sign a guy like Stajan to a reasonable contract because you’re a realist.
The Maple Leaf Outsider - How I Make Unemployment Bearable.
by Pamplemousse on Mar 1, 2010 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
what exactly are you supposed to do? Create one out of clay?
they tried that
Jason Allison sucked
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs
That’s a rec-in’.
The Maple Leaf Outsider - How I Make Unemployment Bearable.
by Pamplemousse on Mar 1, 2010 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
I am being serious
Jerome Iginla just went from playing with Sidney Crosby.
Stajan’s stats put him as a #1 center. This is not a bad signing. But this situation is all reminicient of Sundin never having that amazing winger to play with in Toronto.
Dany Heatley, who is a whiney SOB, has played with Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton.
Iginla, one of the classiest players EVER, gets Jokinen and then Stajan. Life isn’t fair.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
Don’t forget Conroy
We require, as a team, proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.
DION F*****G PHANEUF
by Belligerent Burkie on Mar 1, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
or Savard.
The Maple Leaf Outsider - How I Make Unemployment Bearable.
by Pamplemousse on Mar 1, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
Was he his center in Calgary? Seems to me Conroy was there almost the entire time Savard was…
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Mar 1, 2010 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
I like Stajan but...
… I disagree. I think you save your cap space to maintain flexibility for whenever some cap strapped team inevitably has to let a stud go.
Pretty much every Cup winning team has one thing in common: they have at least three true studs somewhere in their lineup. Think Ovechkin/Green/Semin. Crosby/Malkin/Gonchar. Datsyuk/Zetterberg/Lidstrom. Niedermayer/Pronger/Giggy. If you have those three, you can fill in around them with the Stajans of the world. But until you have those pillars in place, stay young, stay flexible, stay cheap, and don’t tie up your cap space with second-tier UFAs making over $3MM.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 12:58 PM EST up reply actions
And I’m not sure Iggie, at age 32, qualifies anymore as one of those Tier 1 studs.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:00 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty much every Cup winning team has one thing in common
Ovechkin/Green/Semin
LOLWUT?
Resident Capologist
Toskala Cap Counter - RIP
by clrkaitken on Mar 1, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
so...
Kane/Toews/Keith? ;) Hehehehe.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:03 PM EST up reply actions
Yup, just like Spezza/Heatley/Alfredsson, or Thornton/Marleau/Nabokov
Resident Capologist
Toskala Cap Counter - RIP
yeah and the Canes sure had three studs when they won the cup… or you know, just Staal and Ward.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Canes are arguably the exception (though Brind’Amour was pretty stud-like given his defensive role). No stud Ds, but sick depth up front. 6 guys averaging close to 1.0 ppg.
Given that they missed the playoffs the two years before and after they won the Cup I don’t consider that team much more than an unbelievable fluke.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
Two words: Cam Ward.
They also benefitted from facing an Edmonton team that was also a cinderella team.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
and edmonton got shit kicked all the way to the cup, they were pretty broken down
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
yup, and had Roloson not been injured in game 1, who knows how it could’ve gone.
I’d argue that being lucky when it comes to lack of injuries through the playoffs is more important than having stud players…
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
But no team led by Kessel/Phaneuf/Schenn will get close enough for lack of injuries to matter.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
is this statement serious?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
Yes. This team as currently constituted cannot contend for a Cup. We need at LEAST one more top-tier, capable-of-making-Team-Canada player. Not convinced Kadri is that guy. He’s more like a really, really good supporting player.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
We don’t know anything, but that’s my opinion! 29th place… Sorry to get all mf37 on everyone.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
But Kadri is the leading scorer on a 2nd place team in the O, meaning he still has the potential to be more than a supporting player.
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
well of course this team can’t currently contend for a cup.
But Kessel, Phaneuf and Schenn are also a long ways off from their prime. And they require a decent supporting cast. And a good #1 goalie. All of that is required to contend, you can’t just have 3 top tier players and a team of scrubs and think you’ll win. See: Atlanta Thrashers.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
Atlanta only had one top-tier player, not 3.
Look at the relative trash that composes the balance of Pitt forwards after Crosby/Malkin/Staal. Depth is way less important than the top few guys.
Anyone who watched Weber/Doughty/Keith and thinks Schenn has that kind of potential has been watching different games than me.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
I think Schenn could (but probably wont ever) be a lot like weber, minus that rediculous shot
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
Anybody who watched Niedermayer and Weber with 25 seconds left last night understands why a shutdown d-man is important.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
That mistake notwithstanding, I’d build around Weber over Schenn 1000 times out of 1000. They’re in different leagues.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Atlanta had Kovalchuk, Savard, and Heatley together.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t count Savard or Heatley as #1 players.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
you have a strange list if it doesn’t include players that have hit 100 points in their careers.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
IIRC
Savard got better in BOS, Heater got better in OTT, neither was quite as good in ATL.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 1, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
Not until he does it without playing on a line with two other great offensive players. Alfie and Thornton were what made Heatley’s teams go.
Or maybe it’s just because he’s a manslaughtering, whining, Ottawa-tainted cancer. Either way, it’s my (totally made up) list and I’m sticking with it!
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
haha
alright then: arguing this point has no purpose when this list is arbitrarily based upon your opinion.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
What else is anything based on here?!?
In all seriousness I still have nagging doubts about the long-term composition of this team. I worry in particular about the Komisarek and Phaneuf contracts. They have to dramatically improve over their performances the last couple years to justify those dollars.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
It’s all going to come down to goaltending. It’s what makes a coach look good and it papers over a lot of other mistakes.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
exactly
Tampa Bay is an excellent example of this – they went from a Cup winning team to an also-ran when they lost Khabibulin.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
It’s all going to come down to goaltending. It’s what makes a coach look good and it papers over a lot of other mistakes.
It’s all going to come down to goaltending. It’s what makes a coach look good and it papers over a lot of other mistakes.
It’s all going to come down to goaltending. It’s what makes a coach look good and it papers over a lot of other mistakes.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
a lot of things are based on stats.
See the links mf37 posted about how much Stajan’s next contract would be worth.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
I love stats as much as the next guy. Just trying to bring a little levity.
I was surprised to see that of the post-lockout Cup winners, not one had a goalie in top 8 in regular-season sv%. But I agree we need a goalie who can at least post a .915.
I stick with my basic point that top teams are built around elite talent, not overall depth, and I don’t think the Leafs are built that way. We talk a lot about the potential of Kadri, Schenn and others but right now that’s just potential. I’ll bet if you polled scouts very, very few will say any of our prospects are likely to be top 10 players in the league.
Speaking of stats, I seem to recall one of the stats sites (Puck Prospectus or Behind the Net probably) predicted our terrible year, in large part because they thought Komisarek and Beauchemin were extremely overrated. I still hold out hope for Beauchemin but $4.5MM is way, way too much for a one-dimensional guy like Komi.
Proof is in the pudding—we suck. Even post-trade we’ve gone 2-3.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
I think calling Komi’s $4.5 mill contract an overpayment has to be reserved for after we’ve seen him play an entire season.
Also, I will still maintain that the core “top tier” players you identified are nowhere near their prime and require a much better supporting cast before we can think they’ll compete for the cup.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
Stars make supporting casts better, not the other way around.
Phaneuf is in his prime years.
None of us know yet about Kadri and Schenn but I’m going on what I’ve seen thus far.
Remember, if you go around SBNation EVERY team’s fans can talk to they are blue in the face about their can’t-miss stud prospects that many of us have never heard of. Fact is, most of them don’t turn out to be actual studs.
We’ve seen Komi for 5+ NHL seasons and nothing I’ve seen suggests he’s more than a good second pair guy on a contender, and you can’t pay those guys $4.5MM.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Stars make supporting casts better, not the other way around.
Well then, it certainly sucks that Sundin/Joseph couldn’t make the Leafs defense any better.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Are you kidding? That’s exactly what they did. Our stars made the supporting cast better. Joseph covered over a lot at the back end, and Mats at the front. I always thought our fatal flaw in those teams was lack of a true #1D.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:56 PM EST up reply actions
If they’d had a better supporting cast, Sundin and Joseph would have had better success. I cannot see any other possibilities.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
If by supporting cast you mean a top-flight winger or #1D, yes. If you mean more second-tier guys like we always had, then I disagree.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
It goes both ways.
With a better supporting cast, Sundin and Joseph would have had better success with the Leafs. As it was, their excellence allowed the Leafs to overachieve relative to their overall talent level.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
2-3 against NJD x2 San Jose, St. Louis and Ottawa.
A loss to one of the best teams in the east, the best team in the league and St. Louis.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
And what a loss to NJD, was one of the best 56 minute hockey games I’ve seen.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
We can’t afford losses to anyone (if we win out we’ll end with 91 pts) but I was somewhat ok with losing to San Jose and New Jersey. The St. Louis game could have gone better.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Re. St. Louis – I would have even settled for entertaining.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
I haven’t seen the Leafs play a game since January 21st.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
You are indeed a lucky man.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
See that’s the thing. Even though the Leafs are terrible all I want to do is sit down and watch the fucking Maple Leafs.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
<3 you
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Me too.
But that St. Louis game was easily the most boring match of the year and the melt down against NJD was like some sort of sick joke.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Someone told me Kessel scored two goals against Vancouver while I was dancing with my wife at our wedding and all was right with the world.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
predictions of 29th
the prediction was that despite the Leafs’s vastly-improved defense, they would be unable to score goals and thus end up at the bottom of the league.
Claiming that they accurately forecast the Leaf situation is like predicting a house would collapse because of a poor foundation and then claiming you were right when it’s hit by an asteroid.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
by 1967ers on Mar 1, 2010 3:53 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd
For asteroid imagery.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Mar 1, 2010 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
That’s not actually what the review I read said. I agree with your characterization of most predictions, but this one from an advanced stats site (unfortunately I can’t find it now) said (presciently) that our D would still suck, and that we overpaid for Komi and Beauch.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
Beauch is still a decent price for how versatile he is, and Komis value has yet to be seen due to his injury (is he just over payed a bit or by way too friggen much who knows)
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 4:21 PM EST up reply actions
I saved the url of the puck prospectus one. Among other things, it predicted 31 points for Kaberle, nary a 20-goal scorer on the entire team and about 30 games from Tim Brent.
Leaf, the universe and everything.
Some gems
Wallin was the only addition who should be able to provide any aid to this low-scoring group
The defense corps is certainly Toronto’s strength. They have six or seven solid-to-good defensemen to play every night. Barring injury, there is no real weak link in the unit.
Asteroid. BOOM!
Leaf, the universe and everything.
That's definitely not the review I'm referring to!
The one I’m thinking of stands out for being about the only one that predicted defence as a weakness for us. Wish I could find it.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
I saw this same review
They did all their sabermetric stuff and computed Komisarek and Beauch as having the some of the worst overall contributions to the team in the league. I ignored it manfully.
Heatley became Hossa
who is also pretty stinking good…
Kovalchuk – Savard – Hossa is a number one line on any team. Were they all from the same country, that would include the Olympics.
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Mar 1, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions
Goes to show epic mismanagement of that franchise that they couldn’t make anything of it.
And I still wouldn’t count Savard as being more than a good complementary player. One short of my criteria.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
Savard is a peg or two below elite, but still a very good hockey player
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions
to me
it goes to show how much a team needs a deep blueline and good goal tending.
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Mar 1, 2010 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
KADRI!!1
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
More proof of their flukiness
Ward had a Toskala-esque .882 Sv% during the regular season. .920 in playoffs.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
Ward was the fluke
The Hurricanes that year finished 3rd overall, one point behind Ottawa and tied with the shootout marvels from Dallas. They had home ice advantage in every round. They had balanced scoring – four players with 30+ goals, three more with 20+ and Ryan Whitney and Doug Weight as late additions. They had a balanced and deep defence corps, with underrated veteran players like Glen Wesley, Aaron Ward and Brett Hedican (think of the Pat Burns Leafs).
They got lucky in that the top four Western seeds all lost in the first round, and they got lucky in goal; Cam Ward had only started 25 games that season but then got 21 starts in the playoffs. I never really believed he deserved the Conn Smythe but perhaps I was wrong).
But you don’t get to be 3rd overall over an 82 game season without being legitimate Cup contenders. The next season they lost Aaron Ward, Matt Cullen and 30% of Staal’s scoring, plus Cam Ward looked like Cam Ward.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Mar 2, 2010 10:50 AM EST up reply actions
Can’t remember how he was back then, but Ray Whitney has been pretty good since, like a 70pt player
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 1, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Meant to say winning/contending. And yes, Hawks are definitely contending with Kane/Toews/Keith. Several teams have these ingredients so it’s no guarantee, but it’s table stakes it you want to win it all.
And no, Spezza does not count.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
3.5?
Bwahahahahahaha
Columbus: It's amazing how fast the world can go from bad to total shit storm.
Or the Leafs season: either one works
That’s a pretty good contract given the comparables out there. But I’m glad the Leafs aren’t paying it.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
I think grabs gets paid 3 so who’d you rathet
Toronto Maple Leafs: Looking at next year since 1967
by LeafFan1989 on Mar 1, 2010 12:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Grabs is 2.9.
In the cap world, that’s actually a big difference.
Proud supporter of Leafs/Flames trades since 1991.
by Sergei Puckizin on Mar 1, 2010 5:51 PM EST up reply actions
That 600k could be a player on an entry level contract.
Ask Yourself This: WWGRD? (What Would Gary Roberts Do?)
by PassivelyTruculent on Mar 1, 2010 5:53 PM EST up reply actions
$3 million minus $2.9 million isn’t $600,000.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
but $3.5 mill minus $2.9 mill is
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
Good for Matty
But I’m glad we aren’t saddled with that cap hit.
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
yup
pretty much.
not an egregious overpay, but you just can’t overpay for 2nd tier guys like Stajan and be a winner.
Best of luck to them. Iggy and Kipper aren’t getting any younger and the team has very little cap flexibility. Consider, they’ve just taken the money they saved from Phaneuf’s “boat-anchor” contract into Stajan and Hagman. And have yet to sign RFA-to-be White.
I like that D a lot, but think Calgary could be due for a fall very soon.
A good PK is Club Truculence's cover charge
I’m surprised that the Flames would lock him up this early. I would have waited it out to see how well he fits in with the team and how he complements others on the ice.
We require, as a team, proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.
DION F*****G PHANEUF
by Belligerent Burkie on Mar 1, 2010 12:11 PM EST reply actions
It’s been what, a month or so since they got him?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe they think playing with Iggy will pump-up his stats, and want to sign him before that drives up his value?
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
A $3.5M cap hit would put Stajan around 40th in the league in cap hits for centers. He’s 28th in points for a center this year.
We pay Bozak $3.725 a year.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
I thought Bozak got even more than that, around $4 mill?
Either way, yeah it’s a decent deal, but more than anything else I am relieved that this means he won’t be re-signing in Toronto.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:12 PM EST up reply actions
I think a lot of that money is in bonuses though. His base salary is probably in the $1.5-2 million range.
We require, as a team, proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.
DION F*****G PHANEUF
by Belligerent Burkie on Mar 1, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
this
He will not hit most of those bonuses.
We had to make a lucrative offer to get a college FA
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
by nhlcheapshot on Mar 1, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
$2.85MM of that is bonuses. No idea how many of them he’s expected to hit (I don’t think that info is publicly available).
This makes the Rene Bourque signing even more baffling. How is Stajan only a smidge more valuable than Bourque?
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I’m definitely OK with not taking on that cap hit for Stajan. He’s decent and I’m sure the comparables say this is what he should be worth, but I just don’t think he’s worth both the cap hit and term.
I wonder what Calgary fans think.
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
I could do the research
but with Stajan and Borque now taking up the cap space of Phaneuf, do they have room for White’s raise?
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:44 PM EST reply actions
No
Only 16 guys under contract and $50MM in salary. Unless the cap goes up significantly, $7MM to sign 7 guys probably doesn’t leave room for the $3MM plus White is probably in line to receive. And they have to think about Giordano’s raise the following year.
They’re committed long-term to their top 4 D and it doesn’t make sense to pay White big bucks to be #5. Which makes the trade all the more baffling.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
White is playing with Regehr in their top 4. Bouwmeester, Giordano, Regehr, White seem to be the top 4 right now.
I wonder what’s going to happen about White.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 12:52 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, so Sarich at $3.6MM is a real millstone for them if he’s not even top 4.
Not Finger-level millstone, but still.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
They pay Sarich and Kotalik the same amount as Bouwmeester. Incroyable.
Resident Capologist
Toskala Cap Counter - RIP
I am still baffled by that Kotalik trade.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:04 PM EST up reply actions
Finger’s getting waived on or before July 1st, bank on it.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
"Fingers" crossed
And no re-entry waivers! If we add dead salary to our cap I might go postal.
by The '67 Sound on Mar 1, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll be “waiving” goodbye with all four “Fingers” on my hand!
Proud supporter of Leafs/Flames trades since 1991.
by Sergei Puckizin on Mar 1, 2010 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
i will believe it when i see it
A good PK is Club Truculence's cover charge
It’s not that baffling. Calgary wanted Phaneuf gone primarily and they’ll get half a year of cheap production out of White before someone offer sheets him.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
Interesting that the Barilkosphere pegged Stajan’s value at $3.5M months ago (here and here.)
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
damn we’re good
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
just as smart as Darryl Sutter, apparently.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
Can’t wait for the outrage/general befuddlement when Ian White signs a huge deal this summer…
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
you think there’ll be outrage?
I think I’ll be happy for him. After watching Dan Boyle at the Olympics, I really do see a lot of similarities there, I can definitely see NHL gm’s thinking that as well.
Although yes it would have been nice to get those picks as compensation for an offer sheet.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
If White gets the pay day that many have predicted, I think the average fan and the uninformed media will be gob smacked. It’s the type of deal that will be held up us evidence of GM stupidity and CBA failure.
At the time of the Phaneuf deal, a talking head was on air with Gord Stellick and Don Landry and said White could triple his salary. There was this pressurized moment of silence and then both Landry and Stellick lost it. It was as if the analyst (might have been Pierre Maguire) was suggesting White be paid out of Stellick and Landry’s pocket.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
ah
understandable. I think this sort of thing is also unfathomable to the every day person who never has a hope of tripling their salary in one summer.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 1:36 PM EST up reply actions
I think he will be received a lot like Finger was here, wherever he goes (except for the slight chance he comes back here); difference is he will hopefully do better.
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
Finger had great numbers coming in to his UFA year. He was one of the under-the-radar UFAs that was getting some love from the more stats driven blogs.
I actually was hoping the Leafs would sign him, but I figured he’d go for less than $2M/year…
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Which is probably how most non-Toronto (and maybe Calgary by the end of the year) fans probably feel about White.
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
I bet Stajan’s agent totally cited both articles in his negotiations.
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
If he did, Stajan likely would have signed for $1.5M…best recent signing has to be Cal Clutterbuck at $1.4M. He’ll be a broken down shell by the time he’s 30, but that’s a great 2nd contract for a 15 goal scorer from the Wild.
Bitter Leaf Fan: because sometimes there's no option but to be bitter...
Clutterbuck probably sells more than $1.4M worth of jerseys for Minnesota every year.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
i wonder if lucic clears 4 mill in jersey sales
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Mar 1, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
He’s in the top ten for jersey sales in the whole NHL I believe. So, maybe.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Mar 1, 2010 2:14 PM EST up reply actions
yet another 2nd round pick traded away.
Ask Yourself This: WWGRD? (What Would Gary Roberts Do?)
by PassivelyTruculent on Mar 1, 2010 5:49 PM EST up reply actions
Like our 2nd round pick this year.
Ask Yourself This: WWGRD? (What Would Gary Roberts Do?)
by PassivelyTruculent on Mar 1, 2010 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
I do not like this contract. Better players make him look good. He’s not good enough to be a 2nd line centre, but he isn’t bad enough to be a full-time bottom 6 forward. He’d be good on their 2.5 line.
Calgary are now paying him $3.5m to always be disappointed in his performance.
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer
top 6 players produce top 6 numbers when on a line with other top 6ers. It’s a fact.
Stajan’s outproducing Sidney Crosby’s last 4 wingers. Does Phil Kessel make his linemates better than Crosby? Does Alexei Ponikarovsky? Niklas Hagman?
I know the arguments, I’ve seen the numbers and it’s more than likely just me, but I don’t like him and I don’t think Calgary are going to go far paying a very good 3rd line centre that much money.
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer
I think Matty’s agent did a great job getting him the deal of a lifetime.
It’s debatable whether he’s worth the contract, but I think even the biggest enthusiasts can say, at best, it’s market value. Definitely not a steal in any sense of the word.
Leafs Nation: A drinking team with a hockey problem.
Can’t blame Stajan for signing that deal. Same as Jason Blake or Jeff Finger. I just don’t think any team is going to contend with Stajan filling one of the top 2 centre positions.
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer
we have four years to see if you're right
but so far I’m inclined to agree
A good PK is Club Truculence's cover charge
this was basically our fear for the last year
Well, now it’s the Flames that bit. Good news? Bad news?
A good PK is Club Truculence's cover charge
Hmmm. Stajan wasn’t the worst. He’s someone else’s problem now, I guess.
So is there any cap space to sign a decent centre? Are there any decent centres worth signing? Will Wallin be signed to a 3mil multi-year contract? Is Kaberle being moved in the next couple days?
I hope Burke does something interesting. Maybe he’s still got something left in the tank after those trades that seem so long ago…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Pension Plan Puppets
Related FanShots on Pension Plan Puppets
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Trending Topics: In praise of Jeff Carter, Mike Richards; ‘While The Men Watch’ criticism
- The John Tortorella origin story, including ground balls to the face
- NHL investigates Coyotes; Shane Doan explains tense Game 5 handshake with Kings’ Brown
- NHL Playoff Beard Watch: Blood, Sweat and Beards of unsung unshaven heroes
- Devils guarantee they’ll downplay 1994 conference finals for Game 6 vs. Rangers
SBNation.com Recent Stories
StatCounter
