EHM The Blue Line

Thought it would be neat with a thread like this where we can track signings and trades around the leauge this off-season.

The latest is that the Devils are picking up forward Sergei Brylin's option, thus making his contract expire in 2008 (source). After the 2007-08 season, there's another option year for New Jersey.

Good sites
• Irish Blues' incredible contract info site
• NHLnumbers.com
• Full NHL rosters
• TSN.ca - Canada's Sports Leader

The Bruins traded a 5th round pick this week for the rights to Adam McQaid. The Bruins then signed MCQuaid to a multi-year deal. Source

Markov staying in Montreal. For four years and $23M.

Good for the Habs, not only has he been their best Dman but also their best player. If they're clever they won't re-sign Souray to a similar (probably even more expensive) deal but let him go.

But +5m for Markov is still a lot of money...

I actually predicted that Markov would get $5.75M a year (on a Swedish forum).

A great signing by Gainey. Of course, there will be people saying that he is over-paid at $5.75/yr. If you look at Markov's stats and add that fact that he is a cornerstone of the Russian national team's D - he could have had much more on the open market. I can see a team like Edmonton (desperate for a puck-moving d-man) offering at least a mil more per year.
I like that Markov commented on wanting to stay in Montreal and not giving much thought to free agency. His endorsement of the franchise can only help us lure more UFA's this summer.

Argh. Bieksa>Markov. At least after 1 more year. This is painful around the league, not just in Van. Although I kind of get the $ spent on Andrei though.

I totally agree - but since MTL doesn't have a Bieksa - I think this is money well spent. Markov is better than just about every UFA this year - with the exception of Rafalski or Timonen.

Ah...so you have no problem with one NHL team paying too much for a player, because they do not have one like him. We shall remember that when it comes time for a Habs star (do they have one?) to get a contract, and Habs fans are upset because the guy is asking for $6.5 mill per year after a 20 goal season since Petr Prucha was paid that much by the Rangers, or Steve Bernier that much with the Sharks....

Markov's contract is too high. He is a good player, but this puts the pay scale out of whack. 3.5 is where he is at. He is not worth more than Salo, Ohlund, Mitchell, Regehr.....

And yes I know Regehr makes less than 3.5....

I think it comes down to more to the players role on the specific team as opposed to his perceived role league wide. To use Markov as an example - he's a slick passer, but is defensively sound. He is relatively speedy. He plays an offensive style that is very important to the Habs overall system. Most importantly, he is consistent. Are there d-men out there that play a similar style, but better? Absolutely. But to the Habs, he is a perfect fit as a #1 left D-man. Would he be a perfect fit on the Devils? or the Wild? Likely not. These GMs realize this and wouldn't offer Andrei 5.75/yr. But they might offer him 3.5 to play a smaller role.

I guess what I'm saying is it's all about perspective. From Bob Gainey's chair, he's worth the money - obviously. Do you think there are 29 other GMs who are more steamed about this than McCabe? I doubt it.

No not more so than McCabe definitely. However, they will be steamed because now guys who are projected 3-4 dmen (I know Markov in Montreal is #1 or #2, but league wide he is really a #3-4) are going to be using him as a comparison, upping the $ the players eventually sign for.

I would love it if the Markov contract only existed in the fishbowl of Montreal. And other players, agents, GM's realized this..but it does have a league wide effect, and is way, way too much. If the Habs need a real #1 or #2 dman they should have gone out and got one of those, via UFA, or trade...and paid Markov market value...not overpaid Markov for a job he is not really suited for.

IT is a stupid move to overpay players ...thought Gainey would have learned that by now (*cough* Samsonov *cough*... Did Markov hit him over the head with a mallet? Great work by A. Markov and his agent. Danny is now grinning ear to ear.

You do have a point about the comparables in negoitiating other deals.

I don't know if I'd say he's not suited to play #1 minutes though - I'd take Markov over Salo or Ohlund.

yeah he can play #1 minutes...but not well enough. Neither Can Ohlund or Salo do it well enough...Nor Mitchell. That is why they are all 3.5 and noone is in Scott Freaking Niedermeyer territory like Mr. Markov. That would be your comparable.

I can see your point CatchUp...but....

Top 10 NHL defensemen ($) now includes Andrei Markov? I suppose so...when you look at the last 2. But I would rather have 4 or 5 guys below him in salary. T.Kaberle, K. Johnsson, Zubov(even at his age), Boyle...list goes on.

1. Lidstrom $7.6 m
2. Chara 7.5
3. Jovo $7
4. S. Niedermeyer 6.75
5. Redden 6.5
6. Pronger 6.25
7 Blake 6
8 MccAbe 5.75
9 ANDREI MARKOV 5.75
10 Kubina 5

Niedermayer just had a career year with 69 points playing 27:31 a game. Andrei had 20 less points and played 3 minutes less. If the Habs make him the focus of their PP and he puts up 60 points, he'll be playing to potential if you go by the size of this contract (and the comparable!). I'd say that's a fairly reasonable expectation for Markov next year.

And he would be what -45? This is the point. You cannot make someone into what they are not, just by paying them extra $, or too much money because they did a decent job at the lower level contract.

To use two examples: Jovo...could not handle the extra in Phoenix and got hurt. Okay poor example.

better one...Samsonov...habs pay him way more than he should have got. He is then asked to do everything save kill penalties...play hard in his own end, play gritty Carbonneau hockey, and still score and be offensive (as long as the offense did not hurt his play in his own end)...he was paid more...so should be capable of it. Nope.

Same for Markov...he may be expected to do more by being the center of the PP etc, and play more minutes...but he ain't no Scott Niedermeyer now, nor in the past, nor in the future. Bad gamble.

Make him do it first...then give him the money if he does. Should have topped out at 3.5.

That Markov deal is yet another example of how the CBA will crash and burn because owners are too stupid to sign players for what they're worth. batdad, for once , is exactly right when he says Markov is a 3.5 mil player at MOST. Ohlund tunes Markov, by the way. How much will a guy like Brad Stuart cost? He's PERCEIVED to be a better, more dynamic player than Markov (whether he is or isn't is another story), so does that make him worth Scott Niedermayer dollars? And if Brad Stuart is worth Scott Niedermayer, what is Scott Niedermayer really worth? NINE million? TEN? This is spiralling out of control awfully quickly.

Scott is worth the max. I believe it is set as a percentage of the cap...15? so approx 8 or so...since Scott won't be allowed any more.

And in this case it is not an owner being dumb (although I know he has to approve) but Gainey...who is Gillette's hockey person, so Gillette relies on Bob telling him "Markov is clearly worth 5.75 mill....and uses all of CatchUp's reasons to justify what he says. Gillette trusts Gainey, so deal gets done. Gainey has lost it.

batdad wrote:Scott is worth the max. I believe it is set as a percentage of the cap...15? so approx 8 or so...since Scott won't be allowed any more.

The max salary under the current cap is 20% ($8.8M).

(I know there's a max salary under the cap and that it's 8.8 million, hence the statement was intended to reflect the absurdity of the salary situation in the NHL)

Batdad, I'm waiting for your comments about Pyatt signing, 3M for 2Y or something like that

$3m 2 years. He was sched to be UFA, but apparently is not as stupid as Anson Carter.

25 goals from this guy is a boon. Should be able to repeat that if he and the twins stay healthy. He also had a 14 game stretch with only one goal (just prior to that Eastern road trip where he went apedoodles against Ott, Mon, Tor, Buf)

$1.5 per year seems fair...but could be a Chouinard all over again if he does not score and floats like he did at times last season...

The Canucks had offered 1.2 and Pyatt asked for 1.8...so they met in the middle to get the deal done. Taylor really wanted to stay here. Good on him.

whoa : LINK

I never thought I'd see the day...

Way to go Isles!

WOW! It's about time they bought him out. They still didn't learn to stay away from contracts of that length though. I'm sure that DiPietro contract will come back to haunt them one day too.