Eklund: Bolts and Cats Continue to Make Smart Signings

Eklund: Bolts and Cats Continue to Make Smart Signings
- Eklund

do you ever disagree with any signing? they are all great "fits" and what not you say all the time. Tamp really needs those players that are great in the "room". they def lack in that area....

Florida lost Montour, OEL, and Tarasenko. But they get accolades for signing Boqvist?

Tampa just lost Stamkos, Jeannot, and traded away Sergachev. But extending Moser for 2 years is a genius move? This was an RFA extending for 2 years. His payday is coming. A really smart GM might have locked up Moser for 5 or 6 years at say $5M. Instead, he gets just under $4M for 2 years and then could be looking at $6M+.

Now if you want to see some real value contracts...look at the Oilers getting Henrique for $3M, Arvidsson for just $4M, Skinner for $3M, Brown for $1M, Janmark for just over $1M. These are value deals. Several are multi-year as well. But I guess not sneaky enough to mention.

Florida lost Montour, OEL, and Tarasenko. But they get accolades for signing Boqvist?

Tampa just lost Stamkos, Jeannot, and traded away Sergachev. But extending Moser for 2 years is a genius move? This was an RFA extending for 2 years. His payday is coming. A really smart GM might have locked up Moser for 5 or 6 years at say $5M. Instead, he gets just under $4M for 2 years and then could be looking at $6M+.

Now if you want to see some real value contracts...look at the Oilers getting Henrique for $3M, Arvidsson for just $4M, Skinner for $3M, Brown for $1M, Janmark for just over $1M. These are value deals. Several are multi-year as well. But I guess not sneaky enough to mention.
- HockeyBuzzed

I think the approach is that EDM is recognized as having a lot of good offseason moves and the "sneaky" moves are under recognized. I actually think TBL might have improved themselves this upcoming season. They were extremely top heavy this season and too reliant on their PP. Florida is probably weaker but that is common with SC winners. I thought WSH had the best offseason and greatly improved their lineup, but EDM definitely did much better without Holland there.

I think the approach is that EDM is recognized as having a lot of good offseason moves and the "sneaky" moves are under recognized. I actually think TBL might have improved themselves this upcoming season. They were extremely top heavy this season and too reliant on their PP. Florida is probably weaker but that is common with SC winners. I thought WSH had the best offseason and greatly improved their lineup, but EDM definitely did much better without Holland there.
- jfkst1

Agree on TBL. All the criticism counting the players lost vs the players gained leaves out McDonough. Part of the reason for them being cash strapped was the McDonough addition. They lost Sergachev, but are Moser AND McDonough to the good. And Guentzle is poised to be an improvement on Stamkos going forward.

I think the signing not mentioned may be the best value for either of these teams - Florida getting Nate Schmidt for basically league minimum. He can still run their second power play and give them solid minutes and he's getting paid next to nothing. He looked to me like one of Winnipeg's best performers in their dismal playoff series.

Most signings in the off season look good on paper but most do not turn out good when stepping on the ice.

Florida lost Montour, OEL, and Tarasenko. But they get accolades for signing Boqvist?

Tampa just lost Stamkos, Jeannot, and traded away Sergachev. But extending Moser for 2 years is a genius move? This was an RFA extending for 2 years. His payday is coming. A really smart GM might have locked up Moser for 5 or 6 years at say $5M. Instead, he gets just under $4M for 2 years and then could be looking at $6M+.

Now if you want to see some real value contracts...look at the Oilers getting Henrique for $3M, Arvidsson for just $4M, Skinner for $3M, Brown for $1M, Janmark for just over $1M. These are value deals. Several are multi-year as well. But I guess not sneaky enough to mention.
- HockeyBuzzed

THe oilers still need to get a real goalie Skinner ain't one of those

Most signings in the off season look good on paper but most do not turn out good when stepping on the ice.
- broncohorvath

No. Most big UFA signings look bad less than half way through the contract. I'll bet out of the top 10 (tied) biggest 2024 UFA signings, at least half are liabilities in three years. I expect all of Lindholm, Skjei, DeBrusk, Stamkos, Marchessault, Monahan to be bad value by 2028.

THe oilers still need to get a real goalie Skinner ain't one of those
- broncohorvath

Before these past playoffs I would have agreed with you but it's hard to take shots at him when he gets to Game 7 of the Final. He got further than Swayman, Shesterkin, Sorokin and Vasilevskiy. I'm not even saying he's as good as any of those guys but I also don't believe he's preventing Edmonton from winning a Cup.

Any update on Tyson Barrie going to Detroit? Also thought it was interesting that TSN had Chandler Stephenson as the worst contract handed out so far, yet Ek immediately said it was a great signing, great fit, etc...Maybe ypu could elaborate on why? His stats without Mark Stone are awful.