I fail to see why this is an issue. Slight overpayment, yes. Outlandish? No. Brock Nelson got 6 mil for 6 years. 53 points. Skinner got 9 mil for 63 points

Hayes...55 points...7.1 mil

Like i said...slight overpayment
- Hckygoalie31

That's the problem though. Teams keep overpaying players and the salaries go up. Fans then justify their own players salaries by saying they're bargains. Cap remains stagnant yet the middle tier players keep getting overpaid. Agents compare their players to other players making more money. All they need is one inflated contract like Hayes and the trend continues.

I thought the premise of the Salary Cap was to pay the Stars and eliminate overpaying the mid range players? Something has to give. Likely another lockout.
- gergeswillems

I thought that as well. These lockouts seem to fix very little. The same issues keep coming up with these contracts.

As a Habs fan watching these deals has me terrified. Pls Mr. Bergevin. Do not screw things up. Were still dealing with Alzner. We can't handle anymore Scotty. We're breaking up

That's the problem though. Teams keep overpaying players and the salaries go up. Fans then justify their own players salaries by saying they're bargains. Cap remains stagnant yet the middle tier players keep getting overpaid. Agents compare their players to other players making more money. All they need is one inflated contract like Hayes and the trend continues.
- gergeswillems

These teams are in a tough spot with drafting these players at 18 and then they are not ready for 3 years and you then need to overpay for these FA's.

I thought that as well. These lockouts seem to fix very little. The same issues keep coming up with these contracts.
- ses111

It's almost like GMs don't care about the long term ramifications of these contracts. They only care about today. I have a need. I'll fill it. I don't care about escalating salaries for everyone else. I only care about my team. I won't be around long enough for my foolish contract to bite me in the a$$. Let my replacement clean up my mess.

It's almost like GMs don't care about the long term ramifications of these contracts. They only care about today. I have a need. I'll fill it. I don't care about escalating salaries for everyone else. I only care about my team. I won't be around long enough for my foolish contract to bite me in the a$$. Let my replacement clean up my mess.
- gergeswillems

The best thing to do is built through the draft. You need to draft and develop well and you need the patience. Drafting these players at 18 and having to wait 3 years is real tough.

That's the problem though. Teams keep overpaying players and the salaries go up. Fans then justify their own players salaries by saying they're bargains. Cap remains stagnant yet the middle tier players keep getting overpaid. Agents compare their players to other players making more money. All they need is one inflated contract like Hayes and the trend continues.
- gergeswillems

It is what it is. Think Karlsson is worth 11? Duschene is probably going to get 10. Panarin? Bob? These contracts are going to make Hayes's seem minor in a few weeks

These teams are in a tough spot with drafting these players at 18 and then they are not ready for 3 years and you then need to overpay for these FA's.
- ses111

I saw it first hand in Detroit. Holland's failure at the draft table made it impossible to properly replenish his roster. So he overpaid average talent like Helm, Abdelkader and Nielsen. Tatar and Nyquist never emerged as stars like he thought and so he just kept adding washed up free agents like Vanek. Smith and Kindl never became defensive studs so he signed Mike Green and Daley. He overpaid Dekeyser. He couldn't draft a stud franchise goalie so he overpaid Jimmy Howard. You're right. A GM better get it right at the draft and hit on most of his picks or else he'll be filling holes with guys like Kevin Hayes.

Skinner has proven multiple times he can score 30 though.
- poisondhearts37

We'll have to see. Hayes will be centering JVR and Voracek now...so here's hoping those numbers do go up. He is only 27...making him 34 when the contract expires.

It is what it is. Think Karlsson is worth 11? Duschene is probably going to get 10. Panarin? Bob? These contracts are going to make Hayes's seem minor in a few weeks
- Hckygoalie31

Not really. Panarin and Karlsson are elite level players. The stars should get paid. Hayes is a glaring example of what's wrong with the NHL's pay structure. There's always going to be escalating salaries. But guys like Kevin Hayes shouldn't be driving it.

I saw it first hand in Detroit. Holland's failure at the draft table made it impossible to properly replenish his roster. So he overpaid average talent like Helm, Abdelkader and Nielsen. Tatar and Nyquist never emerged as stars like he thought and so he just kept adding washed up free agents like Vanek. Smith and Kindl never became defensive studs so he signed Mike Green and Daley. He overpaid Dekeyser. He couldn't draft a stud franchise goalie so he overpaid Jimmy Howard. You're right. A GM better get it right at the draft and hit on most of his picks or else he'll be filling holes with guys like Kevin Hayes.
- gergeswillems

Drafting in the late rounds is underrated... You have to hit in the later rounds every so often else your screwed...

We'll have to see. Hayes will be centering JVR and Voracek now...so here's hoping those numbers do go up. He is only 27...making him 34 when the contract expires.
- Hckygoalie31

I view Skinner deal purely in the sense of goal scoring potential. Same thing with Neal. He didnt put up points. But scored goals.

The best thing to do is built through the draft. You need to draft and develop well and you need the patience. Drafting these players at 18 and having to wait 3 years is real tough.
- ses111

The league is getting younger every year and these kids coming up from junior are so much better prepared for the pro's than they were even 10 years ago. You're right. There's alot of pressure on GMs to hit on draft picks. I just don't agree with overpaying to fill holes. You pay for it eventually one way or the other.

I saw it first hand in Detroit. Holland's failure at the draft table made it impossible to properly replenish his roster. So he overpaid average talent like Helm, Abdelkader and Nielsen. Tatar and Nyquist never emerged as stars like he thought and so he just kept adding washed up free agents like Vanek. Smith and Kindl never became defensive studs so he signed Mike Green and Daley. He overpaid Dekeyser. He couldn't draft a stud franchise goalie so he overpaid Jimmy Howard. You're right. A GM better get it right at the draft and hit on most of his picks or else he'll be filling holes with guys like Kevin Hayes.
- gergeswillems

It's really hard to even blame these GM's when you are drafting these kids at 18. It's not like the NFL and NBA and these players are ready to go for the most part after the draft. Unless you draft the #1 and #2 in the entire NHL draft, you have a long wait for these players. To be fair, fans can be tough on their teams if they do not make the big FA splash. Maybe one GM can stay disciplined but the next GM will cave and pay the money.

Not really. Panarin and Karlsson are elite level players. The stars should get paid. Hayes is a glaring example of what's wrong with the NHL's pay structure. There's always going to be escalating salaries. But guys like Kevin Hayes shouldn't be driving it.
- gergeswillems

I agree. Paying Karlsson and Panarin and even Duchene is different than Hayes and many other FA's.

I am glad there is no BS in philly right now

7 million a year for a fringe 2nd-3rd liner who has never had one year to justify this money. Idiotic Flyers just inflated the market. Awful

The league is getting younger every year and these kids coming up from junior are so much better prepared for the pro's than they were even 10 years ago. You're right. There's alot of pressure on GMs to hit on draft picks. I just don't agree with overpaying to fill holes. You pay for it eventually one way or the other.
- gergeswillems

I'm an Islander fan and they have not made a big splash for a long time. I'd love for them to sign Panarin because he is the impact forward they need but outside of that, I want Lou to be very careful. No more 4 year deals for Leo type players.

Drafting in the late rounds is underrated... You have to hit in the later rounds every so often else your screwed...
- kaptaan

That's true as well.

Look at what Yzerman gave Tampa. Kucherov and Point were second round picks. Canes got Aho in the second round. Scouting is crucial to any team's success. The more assets a GM can accumulate the more he can fill out his roster with cheap entry level contracts. The more stars you can have. Hopefully some of these cheap entry level contract guys become stars.

You trade your surplus to fill your needs. Not overpay guys like Hayes because you can. It's nice to fill holes and give up no assets but you have to pay the player his true worth. Like the Leafs signing Tavares was a great signing. He's worth what the Leafs are paying him.

The Red Wings paying Frans Nielsen over 5 million a year is foolish. He's a third line centre. Just because Holland had the cap space didn't mean he had to spend it on Frans Nielsen.

I am glad there is no BS in philly right now
- Tumbleweed

Work stoppage says what?

I saw it first hand in Detroit. Holland's failure at the draft table made it impossible to properly replenish his roster. So he overpaid average talent like Helm, Abdelkader and Nielsen. Tatar and Nyquist never emerged as stars like he thought and so he just kept adding washed up free agents like Vanek. Smith and Kindl never became defensive studs so he signed Mike Green and Daley. He overpaid Dekeyser. He couldn't draft a stud franchise goalie so he overpaid Jimmy Howard. You're right. A GM better get it right at the draft and hit on most of his picks or else he'll be filling holes with guys like Kevin Hayes.
- gergeswillems

Hextall had been doing a good job at drafting, but the ownership got tired of his patient approach and out he went because prospects do indeed take time. This was partly done to send a signal to the fan base that they’re ready to ramp this up again.

Hextall had been doing a good job at drafting, but the ownership got tired of his patient approach and out he went because prospects do indeed take time. This was partly done to send a signal to the fan base that they’re ready to ramp this up again.
- Sublime55

Exactly! I admired what Hexy was doing. He took the patient approach. Played the long game. Build through the draft. Develop them the right way. He had a huge mess to clean up from Holmgren.

Flyers didn't allow Hexy to see his plan through and went all Bobby Clarke. Steal the headlines and fast track it. Hexy gets canned and Holmgren stays? How does that make any sense?

Exactly! I admired what Hexy was doing. He took the patient approach. Played the long game. Build through the draft. Develop them the right way. He had a huge mess to clean up from Holmgren.

Flyers didn't allow Hexy to see his plan through and went all Bobby Clarke. Steal the headlines and fast track it. Hexy gets canned and Holmgren stays? How does that make any sense?
- gergeswillems

You need everyone on the same page and it has to start from the owner. You need to hire good scouts and development people and you need to see it through and you need to let the fans in on the plan.

You need everyone on the same page and it has to start from the owner. You need to hire good scouts and development people and you need to see it through and you need to let the fans in on the plan.
- ses111

You get it.