awesome gesture b you 2, good on ya
- Makita

Lefty's idea

How about the last 30 games?
- VANTEL

That doesn't count.

I like Sbisa I just don't like the amount.

Frankly I blame Calgary for giving Deryk Engellend 3 million a year.

That set a pretty terrible precedent.
- classic321

When you compare his deal with that of Andy McDonald and Brayden Colburn it doesn't look so bad.

That doesn't count.
- Marwood

So goals against is irrelevant for a dman?

Look at the others on that list, they suck and/or play for crappy defensive teams. Sbisa doesn't provide offensive either so I don't get why he's earned 3.6 million since he can't stop goals or create them.

Isn't that the objective of the game of hockey?
- Nucker101

So what is the alternative? Trade him for peanuts and shop for a physical 6/7 dman that costs 1 mil less on the UFA market? There's no gauantee they will save money or get what they need. I think Benning did the safe thing and invested 1 mil extra in knowing they still have a big physical player and follow through on the hunch that he will improve... like I said he was instantly better without Bieksa... we know Sbisa can be better... and still only 25.... and still tradeable even if it were for a 5th... the contract won't hurt this team as much as people have convinced themselves. This isnt the 40 mil cap limit that bred all the panick stricken fans 2 lock outs ago.

So what is the alternative? Trade him for peanuts and shop for a physical 6/7 dman that costs 1 mil less on the UFA market? There's no gauantee they will save money or get what they need. I think Benning did the safe thing and invested 1 mil extra in knowing they still have a big physical player and follow through on the hunch that he will improve... like I said he was instantly better without Bieksa... we know Sbisa can be better... and still only 25.... and still tradeable even if it were for a 5th... the contract won't hurt this team as much as people have convinced themselves. This isnt the 40 mil cap limit that bred all the panick stricken fans 2 lock outs ago.
- boonerbuck

Dat PK form doe
- AlexF

He's actually decent on the PK. But I don't know what else to say here, I'm not even using fancy stats, these are legitimate goal stats and he's ranked among the lowest of the low with guys on bottom feeders.

It's not like I haven't liked some of Benning's other moves(Dorsett deal is decent). I'm just saying what we'd all be thinking if we didn't have Canuck blinders on. The cold hard facts are there.

Just saying "he stepped up!" isn't enough for me.

If we look at the Luongo and Kesler trade situation as being similar, don’t you think it’s interesting that JB makes it a priority to re-sign a player acquired through one of his first big trades (some said Sbisa was a throw-in) rather than a player acquired through the previous GM’s big trade?

Why is Sbisa a priority and not Matthias? Is this a case of a GM validating his own trade?

I'm just stirring the pot here…

I'm okay with both deals and the $. I'm sure Benning isn't done yet, there's nothing wrong with cost certainty, which would make one think he is eying something else.

He's actually decent on the PK. But I don't know what else to say here, I'm not even using fancy stats, these are legitimate goal stats and he's ranked among the lowest of the low with guys on bottom feeders.

It's not like I haven't liked some of Benning's other moves(Dorsett deal is decent). I'm just saying what we'd all be thinking if we didn't have Canuck blinders on. The cold hard facts are there.

Just saying "he stepped up!" isn't enough for me.
- Nucker101

Who do you replace him with?

Keep in mind he has already beat out Clendenning, Biega Corrado

If we look at the Luongo and Kesler trade situation as being similar, don’t you think it’s interesting that JB makes it a priority to re-sign a player acquired through one of his first big trades (some said Sbisa was a throw-in) rather than a player acquired through the previous GM’s big trade?

Why is Sbisa a priority and not Matthias? Is this a case of a GM validating his own trade?

I'm just stirring the pot here…
- bloatedmosquito

You can't let Matthias walk for nothing.

So what is the alternative? Trade him for peanuts and shop for a physical 6/7 dman that costs 1 mil less on the UFA market? There's no gauantee they will save money or get what they need. I think Benning did the safe thing and invested 1 mil extra in knowing they still have a big physical player and follow through on the hunch that he will improve... like I said he was instantly better without Bieksa... we know Sbisa can be better... and still only 25.... and still tradeable even if it were for a 5th... the contract won't hurt this team as much as people have convinced themselves. This isnt the 40 mil cap limit that bred all the panick stricken fans 2 lock outs ago.
- boonerbuck

Exactly what I said yesterday. UFA market is a crapshoot. JB made the safe move.

You can't let Matthias walk for nothing.

- VanHockeyGuy

I agree, but that's what JB looks like he's doing. Unless Matthias signs for very little.

Who do you replace him with?

Keep in mind he has already beat out Clendenning, Biega Corrado
- VANTEL

And he's getting better all the time!

So what is the alternative? Trade him for peanuts and shop for a physical 6/7 dman that costs 1 mil less on the UFA market? There's no gauantee they will save money or get what they need. I think Benning did the safe thing and invested 1 mil extra in knowing they still have a big physical player and follow through on the hunch that he will improve... like I said he was instantly better without Bieksa... we know Sbisa can be better... and still only 25.... and still tradeable even if it were for a 5th... the contract won't hurt this team as much as people have convinced themselves. This isnt the 40 mil cap limit that bred all the panick stricken fans 2 lock outs ago.
- boonerbuck

The annoying part is that he's ranked near the bottom in goals allowed on a decent team and as a pending RFA he didn't have a whole lot of leverage. Even if they like him and see potential why not give him another one year "prove it" deal? It's not like he's worth that money right now.

It's easy to find a physical 6/7 guy who isn't a shutdown dman or an offensive one.
I'd rather just give Corrado/Biega or Pedan a shot at less than a million.

And sure it's not a crippling contract but every overpay adds up. If you overpay 5 guys by 500k-1 Million, that's between 2.5M-5M hat can be used for a legit upgrade. I'd rather overpay for a dman who at least is good at something(Either defensively or offensively). If you just want a physical presence with Sbisa's ability, they're easy and cheaper to acquire.

3.6 million for a guy who can't defend or generate offense.

If we look at the Luongo and Kesler trade situation as being similar, don’t you think it’s interesting that JB makes it a priority to re-sign a player acquired through one of his first big trades (some said Sbisa was a throw-in) rather than a player acquired through the previous GM’s big trade?

Why is Sbisa a priority and not Matthias? Is this a case of a GM validating his own trade?

I'm just stirring the pot here…
- bloatedmosquito

It's pretty simple really... the team is not short on bottom six forwards but has next to no options on D.

Who do you replace him with?

Keep in mind he has already beat out Clendenning, Biega Corrado
- VANTEL

that's tough to do.

Who do you replace him with?

Keep in mind he has already beat out Clendenning, Biega Corrado
- VANTEL

So what? I'd rather take the slight downgrade and save the almost 3 million. I doubt those guys will be much worse than 7th-worst in the league defensively...

It's pretty simple really... the team is not short on bottom six forwards but has next to no options on D.
- boonerbuck

What makes Sbisa so much better than our other depth guys though? He's not providing defensive stability or offense.

that's tough to do.
- bloatedmosquito

I agree but you know someone is going to suggest we replace him with one of those 3. I am avoiding that post.

I agree but you know someone is going to suggest we replace him with one of those 3. I am avoiding that post.
- VANTEL

I should probably avoid the posts where people suggest this is a good contract.

It's pretty simple really... the team is not short on bottom six forwards but has next to no options on D.
- boonerbuck

Yet the fan base has been complaining for years that we don't have a good, consistent bottom six.

Interesting perspective but I don't think it is as simple as you think it is.

So what is the alternative? Trade him for peanuts and shop for a physical 6/7 dman that costs 1 mil less on the UFA market? There's no gauantee they will save money or get what they need. I think Benning did the safe thing and invested 1 mil extra in knowing they still have a big physical player and follow through on the hunch that he will improve... like I said he was instantly better without Bieksa... we know Sbisa can be better... and still only 25.... and still tradeable even if it were for a 5th... the contract won't hurt this team as much as people have convinced themselves. This isnt the 40 mil cap limit that bred all the panick stricken fans 2 lock outs ago.
- boonerbuck

Enough with your reason!!!

I agree, but that's what JB looks like he's doing. Unless Matthias signs fore very little.
- bloatedmosquito

Lots of teams want guys his size, I think JB wants to keep him as well, who knows maybe he moves some $ around and signs him. That would probably put us right up against the cap though. Good or bad?

I like Sbisa I just don't like the amount.

Frankly I blame Calgary for giving Deryk Engellend 3 million a year.

That set a pretty terrible precedent.
- classic321

Ya it seems a bit high.

Dorset a great player for us.....reminds me of raphe torres, but smarter. Both scored clutch goals for us.

However I feel mathias is not the kind of player we can afford to lose. He's a breakaway king, likes to challenge goalies and scores r3al quick off a turnover. Unstoppable when hes charging to net with the puck. Only player we have like that. And he's just getting better.