Trevor Shackles: Free Agent Contract Projections Looking at Evolving Wild's contract projections for free agents

If they can ink Wolanin to a 5 year deal at 1.2, that will end up being one of the better contracts in the NHL in a couple years.....obviously speaking in "bang for your buck" terms. The guy is a legit top 4 dman right now, will likely improve, so at 1.2 that's a huge steal.

The irrational invective directed towards Ceci has caused me to feel somewhat defensive. He has had to endure critics piling on to dramatize his failings and discounting or ignoring his successes. Perhaps my reaction is nothing more than a counter reaction against the perpetual cyber bullying that never lets up.

Even though I am not a Ceci fan, I have come to the point where I find myself pulling for the guy. I hope he stays. I hope he succeeds in his career.

Please.
With no malice or disrespect - describe some of his "victories".

He's the current whipping boy, that's for sure.

Spezza being run out of town is certainly similar. I love how the Ottawa media always mentions Jason "DEMANDED" a trade. I believe his quote was - trade me if you want - this was after they'd put him down at every opportunity -
Anybody who is building a 7 million $ home usually isn't DEMANDING a trade

Sens have always needed a whipping boy. Never knew why Spezza became one. His play on the ice was superior and had injuries that you can’t always predict. He was run out of town by management, media, and fans.

Guys like Ceci, Cowen, etc. are whipping boys because of their underwhelming play. It’s partly because expectations on them were lofty and they can’t live up to it.

While I think the Ceci whipping goes overboard sometimes – he has not done himself any favours.

As for the blog itself, some of those projections are strange. Duclair is not getting a multi year deal given his history. I like the try at getting Wolanin at 5 years at 1.2 mill. I don’t think that kind of deal has ever happened.

love how other teams keep hiring people and we keep interviewing people

nobody wants to come here

that bozo Maclean from Sportsnet will end up being President of Melnyk Ops. And what's-his-face from Belleville will be coach. And Pierre from Orleans will make sure we hit a second iceberg to make sure it absolutely sinks.

The irrational invective directed towards Ceci has caused me to feel somewhat defensive. He has had to endure critics piling on to dramatize his failings and discounting or ignoring his successes. Perhaps my reaction is nothing more than a counter reaction against the perpetual cyber bullying that never lets up.

Even though I am not a Ceci fan, I have come to the point where I find myself pulling for the guy. I hope he stays. I hope he succeeds in his career.
- spatso

This is not an "irrational invective." He is one of the players listed here, and I have to talk about him. I purposely didn't talk about him very much because I know I've exhausted the topic. It's not as if I can just avoid him completely, he's one of the biggest talking points on the team. Perhaps you're referring to other people's comments, but that's a bit ridiculous to call this "cyber bullying" by saying a player isn't good enough to warrant the money he is projected to get.

This is not an "irrational invective." He is one of the players listed here, and I have to talk about him. I purposely didn't talk about him very much because I know I've exhausted the topic. It's not as if I can just avoid him completely, he's one of the biggest talking points on the team. Perhaps you're referring to other people's comments, but that's a bit ridiculous to call this "cyber bullying" by saying a player isn't good enough to warrant the money he is projected to get.
- Trevor Shackles

I was not directing the comment specifically at your blog. You are quite correct your description of the Ceci situation was fair and accurate. Rather, my comment was the antecedent willingness to respond to the pitch forks who believe a lynching of Ceci will make right all that is wrong with the Sen's. I apologize if you thought my response was an unreasonable criticism of your fair comments.

I was not directing the comment specifically at your blog. You are quite correct your description of the Ceci situation was fair and accurate. Rather, my comment was the antecedent willingness to respond to the pitch forks who believe a lynching of Ceci will make right all that is wrong with the Sen's. I apologize if you thought my response was an unreasonable criticism of your fair comments.
- spatso

Fair, thanks for clarifying.

Sens have always needed a whipping boy. Never knew why Spezza became one. His play on the ice was superior and had injuries that you can’t always predict. He was run out of town by management, media, and fans.

Guys like Ceci, Cowen, etc. are whipping boys because of their underwhelming play. It’s partly because expectations on them were lofty and they can’t live up to it.

While I think the Ceci whipping goes overboard sometimes – he has not done himself any favours.

As for the blog itself, some of those projections are strange. Duclair is not getting a multi year deal given his history. I like the try at getting Wolanin at 5 years at 1.2 mill. I don’t think that kind of deal has ever happened.

- Gord_Wilson_2.0

Spezza by the end of his time with the Sens was still largely productive, but he had lost a step. His play without the puck/turnovers were starting to have a real effect on games (that drop pass was killer!). He was being outplayed by Turris too- it seemed like the time was to move on. We should have received a better return for him

This team is like a science experiment at the moment. I cant ever recall any team having been pulled apart as much as this team in last 1.5 years. It would be weird if any fringe or un-established player received more then a 2 year deal. Why tear it down completely then start giving long contracts out immediately

Why on Earth would Wolanin sign for multiple years into potential UFA status with a 5yr contract for $1.2M/yr, especially after being an overage-drafted prospect who spent a full 3 seasons in the NCAA? Seriously, he has an agent, you know. I'm guessing a 2yr deal for around $0.9M/$1.1M, especially given the WHC appearance.

I'd put Duclair on a 2yr deal as well... given that it's already his 5th NHL team, a relatively affordable bridge contract should be achievable. Maybe something like a $1.3M/$1.7M split, with performance bonus incentives.

For my money, the guy to try to sign long-term is Colin White. If he's willing to do something like $4M/yr for 5 or 6 years, then I see no reason not to lock him in long-term.

Pulling either Karlsson or Duchene back into the fray as UFA would be worth a significant over-payment, both for the quality of the players involved and the 180-degree PR spin... but it obviously won't be happening.

It is actually fun to see how little the Sens will need to spend to keep their core players. I think with reasonable contracts all those acquired at the end of the season should stay, as they did reasonably well for the team over the final stretch.

As for the 4 that got away (minus Stone who is never coming back), I would not mind seeing Karlsson and/or Dzingel returning, as I believe that would go a long way to heal some deep wounds with the Ottawa fanbase. I also believe that they might consider the option if there is a decent plan ahead for the team to return to respectability. IMHO getting Karlsson back would shave a year from the rebuild and possibly get the Sens back into the playoffs as soon as next season.

The irrational invective directed towards Ceci has caused me to feel somewhat defensive. He has had to endure critics piling on to dramatize his failings and discounting or ignoring his successes. Perhaps my reaction is nothing more than a counter reaction against the perpetual cyber bullying that never lets up.

Even though I am not a Ceci fan, I have come to the point where I find myself pulling for the guy. I hope he stays. I hope he succeeds in his career.
- spatso

If only Ceci would emulate this behavior on the ice.

...I do a gree a lot of the hatred sent his way is overblown though.

Well done Boson!.

So, time for a blog on who to take 17-19?

I agree with previous posters, enough two way guys, lets go for a goal scorer, who somewhat more one dimensional.

I know Caufiled is ranked rather high, but I wonder if he'll drop due to his size. Probably not in the new NHL.

My hockey news draft preview just came in the mail so i can read through that for a bit.