When the Isles signed Boychuk his salary was questioned but the team traded two draft picks and committed to him as the top pair along with Leddy. The Sabres did similar with ROR by committing to him as the number two center. If the cap rises accordingly, it was a good move over the next years.

Real question is whether it is ok to commit to these players and the only drawback is if they are untradeable or need to be bought out ala NYR and Brad Richards, but this is a rich man's game.

Please, enlighten all fans on your Buffalo Sabres organization financial prowess. We thirst for humor......
- TWGsabres

I think the performance speaks for itself....

big overpayment. But if he contributes to a cup winner then it is worth it.. but this will be a noose after 5th year or so

big overpayment. But if he contributes to a cup winner then it is worth it.. but this will be a noose after 5th year or so
- Popcorn Kid

Yes, in year 5 when ROR is 29 years old and the cap is $15M higher than what it is today, this contract is going to be sooooo bad

Un (frank)ing believable

Suck for years, get awesome draft picks and prospects, and the first thing you do... Set yourself up for cap hell.

Murray is such an arrogant clown. His ego will destroy Buffalo
- QuickSCF

When the Isles signed Boychuk his salary was questioned but the team traded two draft picks and committed to him as the top pair along with Leddy. The Sabres did similar with ROR by committing to him as the number two center. If the cap rises accordingly, it was a good move over the next years.

Real question is whether it is ok to commit to these players and the only drawback is if they are untradeable or need to be bought out ala NYR and Brad Richards, but this is a rich man's game.
- Fan101

7.5 mil for your number 2 center? He's their #1 buddy.

I think the performance speaks for itself....
- Bluey

Side stepping the request or hiding under the porch in an effort to avoid the request is one and the same.

Claims of gloom and doom the glass is half empty crowd are met with the more than reasonable expectations of success from the glass is half full crowd.

You'll only bare witness to Murray's GM abilities as time passes, but there is a plan in place.

If I were an EC team, I'd most certainly take notice of what's going on in Buffalo, same with UFA's. And they have.

Hate the game, not the player.

7.5 mil for your number 2 center? He's their #1 buddy.
- Blackstrom2

it's 30-35 % less then what the number 1 centers are getting/going to get

if people take a step back and look at recent contracts, instead of contracts done 3 years ago

it really is market value


If Petry gets 5.5 mil to be a #4 d man
7.5 mil is not out of line for an upper end second line center who is really good 5 on 5

it's 30-35 % less then what the number 1 centers are getting/going to get

if people take a step back and look at recent contracts, instead of contracts done 3 years ago

it really is market value


If Petry gets 5.5 mil to be a #4 d man
7.5 mil is not out of line for an upper end second line center who is really good 5 on 5
- homiedclown

What the hell are you talking about? Name me all the second line centers with comparative salaries who isn't Malkin.

I call him a first line center and you're arguing with me. Like...wtf?

The Avs are for sure the worst run team in the league .I really have seen little to no direction from them for years now , and this non signing is just a mirror to how little they understand talent .Even that of what they already possess .If that is all Oreilly wanted and you balked? Your orginization is screwed.
- Allforhim12

Your ignorance is astounding...would you say ROR is more valuable to this team than MacKinnon, Johnson, and Barrie..all of which need to be signed within the year? No. Would you say he is worth 1.5m more a year than Duchene who is only one year removed from signing his deal? No. It's called cap management.

I'll put this in a way you can understand it. When Mcdavid's ELC expires Eberle will have one year left on his contract. Would you sign Eberle(who put up 8 more points than ROR this season)to a 7.5m/year deal knowing you have to sign players like Mcdavid, Reinhart, Nurse in the immediate future? OR do you realize Eberle (while talented) isn't a part of your true core and trade him for some quality assets?

I'll wait for your responce now.

What the hell are you talking about? Name me all the second line centers with comparative salaries who isn't Malkin.

I call him a first line center and you're arguing with me. Like...wtf?
- Blackstrom2

Bergeron? If you consider Krejci Boston's #1

What the hell are you talking about? Name me all the second line centers with comparative salaries who isn't Malkin.

I call him a first line center and you're arguing with me. Like...wtf?
- Blackstrom2

Well I guess it depends on what criteria to you use when you call someone a second line center. Are you using their skill/production, or are you using their literal place in the lineup?

Malkin might be on the 2nd line in Pitt, but he's far from a "2nd line center". In fact, he's a franchise 1st line center.

I think players get paid based on their skill and production, not their literal place in the lineup. Otherwise you could say that Chicago is paying $10.5M per year to a 2nd line winger.

The truth is that 5 years ago, guys like Malkin, Crosby, etc. were making $8-9M and they were the elite centers in the league. The 2nd line centers, guys who are of ROR's caliber, were getting paid $5-6M. But now, Toews, Getzlaf, etc. are getting paid $9-10.5M and Stamkos and Tavares will likely each get $11M+ and that pushes those 2nd tier guys that were making $5-6M up to the $7-8M range now. It's just inflation.

Well I guess it depends on what criteria to you use when you call someone a second line center. Are you using their skill/production, or are you using their literal place in the lineup?

Malkin might be on the 2nd line in Pitt, but he's far from a "2nd line center". In fact, he's a franchise 1st line center.

I think players get paid based on their skill and production, not their literal place in the lineup. Otherwise you could say that Chicago is paying $10.5M per year to a 2nd line winger.

The truth is that 5 years ago, guys like Malkin, Crosby, etc. were making $8-9M and they were the elite centers in the league. The 2nd line centers, guys who are of ROR's caliber, were getting paid $5-6M. But now, Toews, Getzlaf, etc. are getting paid $9-10.5M and Stamkos and Tavares will likely each get $11M+ and that pushes those 2nd tier guys that were making $5-6M up to the $7-8M range now. It's just inflation.
- rangerdanger94

I base it on their ice time, generally. Listen, I understand how it works here and what you're pointing out, all I was saying is that 7.5 mil/yr is first line territory, and the Sabres expect him to produce like one. Whether it goes up in a year or two is in a year or two.


If Eichel takes longer than expected to adjust, who is their #1 center if it's not RoR? Either way the Sabres signed him expecting him to be a #1 center if necessary. They said it in the presser.

I base it on their ice time, generally. Listen, I understand how it works here and what you're pointing out, all I was saying is that 7.5 mil/yr is first line territory, and the Sabres expect him to produce like one. Whether it goes up in a year or two is in a year or two.


If Eichel takes longer than expected to adjust, who is their #1 center if it's not RoR? Either way the Sabres signed him expecting him to be a #1 center if necessary. They said it in the presser.
- Blackstrom2

Yea I hear you. We'll see what happens...I honestly think that ROR is gonna take the role of 1st line center and run away with it. Dude's gonna kill it with Kane on his wing this year.

First, I don't think anyone is, or should be anyway, arguing that ROR is on Toews' level. JT is certainly a better player, but I feel it is fair to say they're cut from the same cloth. They're both dynamic, two-way centers, that can create high levels of offense, while effectively shutting down the opposing teams top lines. I feel you can add Bergeron, and Kopitar to that list as well. As far as it being a ridiculous contract, time will tell. As a Sabres fan, I agree there's a bit of sticker shock when you look at the money, but I also agree that this contract is predicated on two things : What GMTM and his boys project ROR to become in his absolute prime, and a "shield" for Eichel, Reinhart, and maybe even, to a lesser extent, Girgo. Simply put, if he produces 60-70 points per season, as well as taking on minutes against the top lines in the league, and takes some of the attention/pressure off two of the leagues most promising center prospects, Ill be praising the contract. However, as a Sabres fan, I don't want to talk about the alternative - see D.Clarkson...

Bergeron? If you consider Krejci Boston's #1
- tomburton99

Krejci i a much older contract, but they both play about the same ice per game. Their difference is 3 seconds. Julien seemingly doesn't deploy a true "first line".

But come on..we all know who the #1 is in Boston.

Yea I hear you. We'll see what happens...I honestly think that ROR is gonna take the role of 1st line center and run away with it. Dude's gonna kill it with Kane on his wing this year.
- rangerdanger94

I love RoR, and I hope he flourishes there to shutup all the naysayers.

the debate of a #1 and #2 can range forever.

My fear as a BUF fan would be that ROR was a support player in COL and now will be the focal point. This reeks similar to Kessel. An above average support player that gets top dollar because of what he "might" do vs what he ever has done.

ROR could become a star, or a Plekanec. This is why there are question marks about his dollar amount. Anyone that says he is worth that, really, is hoping he will be worth it IMO.

You would think, if ROR has the ability to bring a team to the next level, COL would have easily given him this money... that is telling IMO.

Whoa, what's with the casual Colorado bashing in this blog. That's a lot of confidence to call Roy the worst coach in the league, 1 year removed from winning the Jack Adams. And the Avalanche are the worst run team in hockey, nvm they won the hardest division in the NHL.

This contract for Ryan is absolutely fair, he is a gem of a player. But it is not an unrestricted signing. Buffalo traded quality assets for him, and while losing ROR sucks the Avs gained in return salary cap flexibility for their future and restocked their prospect pool.

the debate of a #1 and #2 can range forever.

My fear as a BUF fan would be that ROR was a support player in COL and now will be the focal point. This reeks similar to Kessel. An above average support player that gets top dollar because of what he "might" do vs what he ever has done.

ROR could become a star, or a Plekanec. This is why there are question marks about his dollar amount. Anyone that says he is worth that, really, is hoping he will be worth it IMO.

You would think, if ROR has the ability to bring a team to the next level, COL would have easily given him this money... that is telling IMO.
- BooBoo997

Yes, but also, COL has Duchene and Mackinnon ahead of him. BUF potentially has Eichel and potentially Reinhart ahead of him, and potentially Girgensons right there with him. The key there is potentially. RoR stabilize their inexperienced center position.

I base it on their ice time, generally. Listen, I understand how it works here and what you're pointing out, all I was saying is that 7.5 mil/yr is first line territory, and the Sabres expect him to produce like one. Whether it goes up in a year or two is in a year or two.


If Eichel takes longer than expected to adjust, who is their #1 center if it's not RoR? Either way the Sabres signed him expecting him to be a #1 center if necessary. They said it in the presser.
- Blackstrom2

These are valid points.

Pay attention kiddies, this poster knows how to hold a discussion.

I'll answer that by the way.

Aren't all contracts associated with some degree of risk?
For example, injuries, expectations on the club's larger picture roster wise, projected team strategies from both a coaching and personnel management aspect, other variables such as chemistry amongst players or individual performance and the commitment of all parties.

There is always inherent risk.

Would this even be a topic on HB if a team like Toronto or Montreal did this deal?

The Canadian Dollar is a petro currency. When the price of Oil is up, so goes the Canadian Dollar. Other reasons for the lower Canadian Dollar is the upcoming Federal Election in the fall. Canadian's will go to the polls and the way the indicators are pointing, will probably be looking at a minority government. Right now, the NDP(Labour, or socialists) have moved ahead of the Liberal Party of Canada. They are neck and neck with the governing Conservatives. Unfortunately, a close vote will cause a minority government and the Liberals will side with the NDP to turf the ruling Conservative Party, of Steven Harper.

What this will cause is an issue in the stock market. The Conservatives have run a decent fiscal ship, the last few years, since the Stock Market crash of 7 years ago. The idea of a Socialist government coming to power and opening up the spending taps, will drive down the value of the currency. What does this mean to the Canadian teams and their contribution to the salary cap? Less revenue and possibly teams being in financial trouble, with players being paid in U.S. dollars. There could even be cap regression, if the dollar falls under 80 cents, as compared to the U.S. dollar. Best hope for a Conservative rebound and keep the value of the Canadian dollar above the 80 cent demarcation line.
- PrinceLH

Oil is most likely in trouble for a year or two (at a minimum) the way things are progressing, another thing that will hurt the Canadian dollar is when the US raises interest rates. CAD is most likely headed to the 72 to 75c range as the Canadian gov't will do nothing to protect it and will actually hurt it by cutting rates again. I think the Canadian teams account for upwards of 35% of league revenue, so another 5 or 7c drop in CAD will definitely hurt the Cap somewhat.

First, I don't think anyone is, or should be anyway, arguing that ROR is on Toews' level. JT is certainly a better player, but I feel it is fair to say they're cut from the same cloth. They're both dynamic, two-way centers, that can create high levels of offense, while effectively shutting down the opposing teams top lines. I feel you can add Bergeron, and Kopitar to that list as well. As far as it being a ridiculous contract, time will tell. As a Sabres fan, I agree there's a bit of sticker shock when you look at the money, but I also agree that this contract is predicated on two things : What GMTM and his boys project ROR to become in his absolute prime, and a "shield" for Eichel, Reinhart, and maybe even, to a lesser extent, Girgo. Simply put, if he produces 60-70 points per season, as well as taking on minutes against the top lines in the league, and takes some of the attention/pressure off two of the leagues most promising center prospects, Ill be praising the contract. However, as a Sabres fan, I don't want to talk about the alternative - see D.Clarkson...
- tomt8391

This is a good signing until Reins and Eichel both outperform ROR at the end of their of their ELC's(albeit a big if) and you're looking at paying anywhere between 15m-18m to resign them. Along with pieces like Kane, Risto, Girgs, Pysyk, etc. Some of the young talent buffalo has stockpiled are going to point to ROR's contract as a starting point, which will lead to them finding jobs elsewhere. Not trying to troll as ROR was a personal favorite of mine and I live in buffalo and will be at the development camp this week, but in 3 years when Eichel, Reinhart, and Kane's contracts expire this contract will be what they're looking to start at.

Would this even be a topic on HB if a team like Toronto or Montreal did this deal?
- c1067

If MTL or Toronto did it, it would already be on page 100+. Seriously, new here?