g20topdogg

Oh a little sarcasm there eh?

Yes but Thrun probably didn't want to sign with us anyway so getting something for him was better than getting nothing.

I think it's possible for him to get to 70-75 points this year. His linemates should be better, the team should be overall better and we have a new coach.

Killorn wasn't some bystander on two cup winning teams. Maroon has three cups but you do realize the difference in players here right? A fourth line grinder and a top 6 winger are two completely different things. Kessel's career is coming to a close, him and Killorn are obviously at different points in their respective careers. Kessel could barely stay in the lineup last season while Killorn still had a career year. You know exactly why Killorn was paid and why we chose to bring him here and not maroon and Kessel. It's not hard to figure out. But we have to overpay guys to come here because we're a rebuilding team. Just because we over payed for a player doesn't mean we have to overpay everyone else too. Zegras should understand that and I can see Verbeek explaining that reasoning to him. Zegras can ask for the moon doesn't mean he's going to get it. I'm thinking both sides are slowly chipping away at the AAV and will come in around 5.5 to 6.5 mil.

Killorn is overpaid. He was overpaid to come here. He's with us because no one wanted to offer him a similar contract with similar term. Otherwise, why would anyone want to come here to a rebuilding team? Besides, Killorn is a two time cup champion. If Zegras gets us to the promised land I don't care if he's paid 12 mil. But he hasn't yet so here we are. Those players all signed long term deals upping the AAV. We don't know what was offered to Zegras on a long term deal but it wasn't 3-4 million. We shouldn't even be in this situation. Verbeek should have offered him an extension before or during the season. He opted to wait until the season was over before starting the negotiations. I think that was a mistake. Zegras would probably sign a bridge in the 3-4 mil range before last season.

Yeah but isn't the rumored amount for a bridge deal? If someone offered him a longer contract with higher AAV that would make sense. I'm not sure anyone would give him an 3x8.5 right now because it'd be an overpay and you might not realize the value of that contract. You can't ever tell of course but I don't think Zegras is going to be a 90pt player next season.

Ah perfect I was just going to look it up myself. Thanks for clarifying who EP40 is lol. I couldn't think of who that was! Yeah I agree Pettersson is likely the closest to Zegras in terms of bridge deals. He's also produced more though so you're right I would put Zegras into that 6.2 mil range as you mentioned. That's likely somewhere the contract will fall because it's less than Terry (for now) and it gives Zegras the opportunity to show that he's worth more on his next contact.

Oh interesting. So only six players have as many or more points in the last 5 years? That's some good company to be in. But outside of Matthews who's a freak of nature and shouldn't be discussed with the likes of Zegras because he's on a much higher level. Who else signed a three year bridge deal? Hughes I know signed for 8 and we know that the more ufa years you eat into the higher the AAV. So I'm not sure we can really compare them this way.

Yeah but don't forget both Kane and Toews came off multiple cups with the hawks. It's why they were paid. Zegras is in a much different position. Zegras is also coming into a team that's been terrible highlighted by terrible coaching. I agree Zegras should be paid. But it's he worth more than 8.5 right now? I'm leaning into the bridge contract camp now. I think his contract, if term is 3 years, is going to end up around 5.5-6 mil per. I think that's fair value for his near term production and Verbeek keeps the contract less than Terry. I'm wondering though, will McT also go the bridge route or cash in? To me he seems like the kind of guy who's going to sign that 8 year contract. Idk why it just seems that way.

Ok the uncomfortable thing makes sense now. I like his approach, instill systems and worry about the guys getting into physical shape as they go along and start playing more. Certainly better articulating an approach than Eakins. I'm very hopeful.

What did he mean by them working on stuff that was really uncomfortable? That's kind of an odd thing to say.

I don't think it's far fetched to think that Zegras is going to be the best player on the team. He might even be better than Terry this year as well. He's got that potential. Just because he hasn't hit that ceiling yet shouldn't be used against him. Players don't age the same and we're also talking about a guy much younger than Terry. We're looking at the future and that future likely shows Zegras being better than Terry.

Better days are ahead. It's been a rough patch for sure but I think we'll be exciting soon. We should be much more competitive this season hopefully. Maybe not in the wins column but on the ice for sure. I'm really looking forward to the new coach hopefully we see a jump in the players game.

Don't think that's going to happen. Too expensive. It's going to really put a hamper on our salaries. Besides I don't want to go all in on our forwards only. We need defense too otherwise we'll just become Toronto west.

Don't forget we still have McT. Maybe one of our other prospects turns into something as well. Likely ufa though.