Ben Shelley: Reviewing the season (so far): Anders Lee

I am not going to lie. I would like to see more grit and production from our Captain.

Ben Shelley: Reviewing the season (so far): Anders Lee
- Ben Shelley

Another overpaid player, bad contract, may not score 30g again

Another overpaid player, bad contract, may not score 30g again
- Hell_Bent

Honestly, I don't mind the price on the contract. Based on comparables (E. Kane, JVR), the $7M was pretty standard. I was less thrilled about the term.

Honestly, I don't mind the price on the contract. Based on comparables (E. Kane, JVR), the $7M was pretty standard. I was less thrilled about the term.
- Ben Shelley

If the term wasn't that long the amount would have been more. Can't have you cake and eat it unfortunately.

If the term wasn't that long the amount would have been more. Can't have you cake and eat it unfortunately.
- nyisles7

JVR signed at $7M x 5 in 2018 coming off a 36-goal year, at the same age Lee was when he signed, so he had a pretty solid comparable that got less term.

JVR signed at $7M x 5 in 2018 coming off a 36-goal year, at the same age Lee was when he signed, so he had a pretty solid comparable that got less term.
- Ben Shelley

I think the difference is JVR wanted to go back home and the Islanders didn't want to loose their captain again on top of Lee's offensive production.

I thought Lees contract was fair for both.

JVR signed at $7M x 5 in 2018 coming off a 36-goal year, at the same age Lee was when he signed, so he had a pretty solid comparable that got less term.
- Ben Shelley

Salaries have been steadily increasing, however. IMO, Lee would not have got the same deal in 2018 that he got in 2019.

Salaries have been steadily increasing, however. IMO, Lee would not have got the same deal in 2018 that he got in 2019.
- JohnScammo

That too. JVR was 10% of the Flyers cap hit when signed and Lee's was 8% of the Islanders.

Also The Islanders also had Lee and his production at a steal the previous couple of years.

https://www.barstoolsport...r-the-philadelphia-flyers

Crushes Milbury in this break down.. riot.

Salaries have been steadily increasing, however. IMO, Lee would not have got the same deal in 2018 that he got in 2019.
- JohnScammo

Cap only increased $2M between 2018-19 and 2019-20- so Lee's $7M this year would've still been about $6.83M in 2018-19 if you use his cap percentage and apply it to that cap.

That too. JVR was 10% of the Flyers cap hit when signed and Lee's was 8% of the Islanders.

Also The Islanders also had Lee and his production at a steal the previous couple of years.
- nyisles7

Unless I'm missing something, JVR only took 8.8% of the cap ($7M of $79.5M cap in 2018-19) versus Lee who took 8.6% of New York's cap this year ($7M of $81.5M cap).

Lee was making $3.75M before signing, JVR was only $4.25M though before his contract as well.

Regardless, was at least a year too long if he was getting $7M, IMO.

Unless I'm missing something, JVR only took 8.8% of the cap ($7M of $79.5M cap in 2018-19) versus Lee who took 8.6% of New York's cap this year ($7M of $81.5M cap).

Lee was making $3.75M before signing, JVR was only $4.25M though before his contract as well.

Regardless, was at least a year too long if he was getting $7M, IMO.
- Ben Shelley

Yeah I guess your right so Lou should have let him walk then? Would have served the team better?
Not trying to be an ass but if Lee's camp wanted 7 years, which they did, (and honestly there were higher yearly salaries out there rumored for him at the time) you would've let him walk?
Just love how we ( I'm included ) on here judge terms and dollars per years given when we don't have a clue what other teams offered or any of the other details of the negotiation.
It's not black and white or else there would be a NHL salary manual imho.

Yeah I guess your right so Lou should have let him walk then? Would have served the team better?
Not trying to be an ass but if Lee's camp wanted 7 years, which they did, (and honestly there were higher yearly salaries out there rumored for him at the time) you would've let him walk?
Just love how we ( I'm included ) on here judge terms and dollars per years given when we don't have a clue what other teams offered or any of the other details of the negotiation.
It's not black and white or else there would be a NHL salary manual imho.
- nyisles7

I'm not saying Lou made the wrong decision- the Islanders weren't in a position to let a key forward go. Though the deal is potentially longer than it should be, I can understand that may have been necessary to keep him. I'd imagine most people would have made the same decision as him in that position.

I never blamed Lou for the deal, just said the contract itself doesn't come with an ideal term, based on comparables. I think it's always an option to say "That contract isn't great but it's not necessarily all the GM's fault" if there are factors that make a negotiation more difficult.

At the end of the day, it's the GMs job to try to get the best contract possible for the team. Whether that's using all the comparables possible or calling the player's bluff like Yzerman did with Stamkos in TB, those are tactics that can be used and we have no idea what Lou tried to do. All I can say is based on other comparable contracts, not factoring in other circumstances and also not blaming the GM for it, to me, it isn't an ideal term.

I'm not saying Lou made the wrong decision- the Islanders weren't in a position to let a key forward go. Though the deal is potentially longer than it should be, I can understand that may have been necessary to keep him. I'd imagine most people would have made the same decision as him in that position.

I never blamed Lou for the deal, just said the contract itself doesn't come with an ideal term, based on comparables. I think it's always an option to say "That contract isn't great but it's not necessarily all the GM's fault" if there are factors that make a negotiation more difficult.

At the end of the day, it's the GMs job to try to get the best contract possible for the team. Whether that's using all the comparables possible or calling the player's bluff like Yzerman did with Stamkos in TB, those are tactics that can be used and we have no idea what Lou tried to do. All I can say is based on other comparable contracts, not factoring in other circumstances and also not blaming the GM for it, to me, it isn't an ideal term.
- Ben Shelley

All fair points. Let’s move on. Who’s next?