Those are pretty respectable raises for both players, especially if they are also getting 7 year deals.
- Feanor

Their previous contract has nothing to do with what they will get this year. They will get market value. Market value suggests both players will be around $7M AAV.

Their previous contract has nothing to do with what they will get this year. They will get market value. Market value suggests both players will be around $7M AAV.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd say $5.5M - $6M. Maybe $6.5M for Girardi.

Try and trade for Weber again? lol.


Give up both Schenn's, Read, Laughton, and a 1st?

Their previous contract has nothing to do with what they will get this year. They will get market value. Market value suggests both players will be around $7M AAV.
- PhillySportsGuy

Niskanen has nowhere near the stats that got Letang 7.5m.

Try and trade for Weber again? lol.


Give up both Schenn's, Coburn, Laughton, 2 1sts, and a 2nd?
- Flyers_V88

I think you may have a deal.

Niskanen has nowhere near the stats that got Letang 7.5m.
- Feanor

If he were to get that money, it would be a crime! He's not even that good and has only had 1 or MAYBE 2 decent years...

I'd say $5.5M - $6M. Maybe $6.5M for Girardi.
- jmatchett383

With the cap going up, almost every team will have cap space. Almost every team needs a top 4 defenseman. The interest from multiple teams will drive up the price. In the current NHL, those guys are $5.5-6M defenseman.

Their previous contract has nothing to do with what they will get this year. They will get market value. Market value suggests both players will be around $7M AAV.
- PhillySportsGuy

I dunno, about $7M, but Jonathan Ericsson just re-upped for $4.25M and he didn't even hit the open market. The pre-market value for 3rd-line forwards is at the $3M mark (Cogliano, Stajan) and you have a guy with at a 0.60 career points-per-game mark almost hit $6M (Steen).

Now, imagine what these players would have gotten if the other 29 teams had a chance to submit offers to them?

I think you may have a deal.
- jmatchett383

I didn't throw Coburn in there because I'd wanna keep him if possible. I think Read could be replaced and Vinny or Couts would slot into the number 2 center hole.

If he were to get that money, it would be a crime! He's not even that good and has only had 1 or MAYBE 2 decent years...
- Flyers_V88

Look at the deal Clarkson got. He only had a couple good scoring seasons. Before that, he was a checking line/grinder.

Look at the deal Clarkson got. He only had a couple good scoring seasons. Before that, he was a checking line/grinder.
- PhillySportsGuy

Sanity/reasonable deals/discounts + UFA = does not compute.

I didn't throw Coburn in there because I'd wanna keep him if possible. I think Read could be replaced and Vinny or Couts would slot into the number 2 center hole.
- Flyers_V88

Right...but that's not how this works. In order to get an elite defender, you have to MASSIVELY overpay.

That said, while I don't mind talking scenarios, it's not happening. Ever.

I dunno, about $7M, but Jonathan Ericsson just re-upped for $4.25M and he didn't even hit the open market. The pre-market value for 3rd-line forwards is at the $3M mark (Cogliano, Stajan) and you have a guy with at a 0.60 career points-per-game mark almost hit $6M (Steen).

Now, imagine what these players would have gotten if the other 29 teams had a chance to submit offers to them?
- Tomahawk

Niskanen is having his best year. He's been Pitts best defenseman. You should see their thread. They have discussed re-signing Niskanen and trading Letang.

Right...but that's not how this works. In order to get an elite defender, you have to MASSIVELY overpay.

That said, while I don't mind talking scenarios, it's not happening. Ever.
- jmatchett383

You mean taking 5 steps back and 1 step forward isn't the solution?

Look at the deal Clarkson got. He only had a couple good scoring seasons. Before that, he was a checking line/grinder.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, and the Leafs stupidly over-paid... At least he could say he netted 30 goals though. What has Niskanen done? I mean really...?

You mean taking 5 steps back and 1 step forward isn't the solution?
- PhillySportsGuy

Well, we just replace Read with Akeson, Laughton's a bust anyone, Coburn's massively overpaid and slow (replace him with Lauridsen or Syvret), Luke Schenn is abysmal (replace him with the often-concussed MAB), we suck at 1sts rounders anyway and Homer doesn't like 2nd round picks either.

Problem solved.

Right...but that's not how this works. In order to get an elite defender, you have to MASSIVELY overpay.

That said, while I don't mind talking scenarios, it's not happening. Ever.
- jmatchett383

No, it's not going to happen. But, I think the deal I first "offered" was more than fair...

Yeah, and the Leafs stupidly over-paid... At least he could say he netted 30 goals though. What has Niskanen done? I mean really...?
- Flyers_V88

Nobody's saying the Flyers should pay that price... only that somebody will, a la the Leafs and Clarkson, Flyers and Streit, Redden/Holik/Gomez/Richards/Drury/Kasparaitis and Rangers.

Yeah, and the Leafs stupidly over-paid... At least he could say he netted 30 goals though. What has Niskanen done? I mean really...?
- Flyers_V88

Been playing much (MUCH) better than a guy who was a Norris finalist last year? Been the backbone of the team running away with the division? Have the best +/- (unreliable, yes) in the entire NHL? Any of that?

No, it's not going to happen. But, I think the deal I first "offered" was more than fair...
- Flyers_V88

More than fair doesn't get things done. Massive overpayment could.

Nobody's saying the Flyers should pay that price... only that somebody will, a la the Leafs and Clarkson, Flyers and Streit, Redden/Gomez/Richards/Drury/Kasparaitis and Rangers.
- Tomahawk

Don't forget Bure and Holik.
Oh, and the Bruins paying Lapointe 4 years $20M, which is actually what started these massive overpayments.

Yeah, and the Leafs stupidly over-paid... At least he could say he netted 30 goals though. What has Niskanen done? I mean really...?
- Flyers_V88

I'm not saying he's worth $7M. I'm telling you what I believe other teams will pay. You think Clarkson is going to be the last FA to be overpaid?

Niskanen is having a very good year. He's a two-way top 4 defenseman. He's a top pairing guy when paired with a very good partner.

He's a risky player. The team offering him the deal will just say he's a late bloomer and they expect this season to be just the start of his steady play throughout his career.

Don't forget Bure and Holik.
Oh, and the Bruins paying Lapointe 4 years $20M, which is actually what started these massive overpayments.
- jmatchett383

Blah, I snuck Holik in there as an edit.

Bure's deal was inherited, wasn't it?

Nobody's saying the Flyers should pay that price... only that somebody will, a la the Leafs and Clarkson, Flyers and Streit, Redden/Holik/Gomez/Richards/Drury/Kasparaitis and Rangers.
- Tomahawk

Hey, speaking of overpaid defenseman...

Mark Streit has matched his goal total from last year (6) and is 4 points shy of tying last year's point total (27) and is a plus-14 compared to last year (0 vs. -14). Granted, he's played more games so far this year.

But, um...yeah, that.