It's August -- Why is Abdelkader Still Unsigned? (Signed to 4-yr deal, $1.7M per)
 

Title says it all.

My guess is he wants more money than KH is willing to give him.

If reports are accurate that he wants 2 million he can stay unsigned as far as I am concerned and I like Gator. That is just too much for him in my opinion.

Considering Drew Miller makes $875,000 and is definitely more useful, Abdelkader shouldn't get anything over 1.25 mil. If it was up to me, he wouldn't get a cent over 1 mil, but all I hear about around here is how hit stats = a good player. But I've argued this to death in the past, so I'll probably just leave it as that. He's mediocre.

Well that applies to every UFA in the NHL over the past three years...

(Or Sammy and Lilja..... :sarcasm: :laugh:)


;)

I guess that tells you how much the NHL thinks of Justin Abdelkader.

Yeah Abby is good for about 8 goals and 140 hits. An average penalty killer at best. He stinks at center but pretty effective at wing. My guess is he's worth around 1.5 a yr. That's a little much IMO but that's the going rate. Tootoo received 1.9 and I thought we overpaid on him. maybe I'm just frugile

Waiting for the CBA to be resolved. What's the rush?

No, I meant that KH finds everyone to be too expensive these days.....


... well, except a few favored sons.

He sucks?

Why was there a rush to sign Sammy, Tootoo, and Helm-- if that's the issue. Quincey's camp took it to arbitration, which looks like a smart move from his agent. Otherwise, you just sit around and wait for the lockout to end.

It's possible. Trade his rights for a bag of pucks?

Seems legit. :laugh:

to be honest I really don't care

never was very high on him

Sammy and Tootoo were UFAs. Not comparable. You don't have the luxury of waiting to see or matching any other offer in the mean time.

Helm is one of your top 5 core pieces up front going forward (yes, even as a bottom 6 forward.)

If Abby was Helm he would have been signed b now. I'm not sure the delay has anything to do with the CBA. Maybe, maybe not. But there's simply not going to a giant rush to sign a secondary, bottom 6 forward like Abby. Who knows, maybe Holland is not rushing it to first see if any moves are out there (JayBo, Yandle, maybe a forward) and what exactly would be leaving the organization with such a move.

I agree. I really can't think of many (if any) better players than Drew Miller making less than $1m, but still, Abdelkader is a decent 4th liner...and decent 4th liners aren't worth close to $2m a season.

I don't see much untapped potential in Abby either, he's just a meat & potatoes grinder. He seems like a good character guy and I'd like him to stick around, but not at anything over $1.5m, hopefully even less.

I hope he stays unsigned. Mediocre player at best.

Why settle for a bag of pucks when we can get Lilja? :nod:

Because he's bad.

Helm didn't sign until August when he was a RFA back in 2010, as well. Countless other scenarios from other teams too. It's not rare.

I know what you meant. I was just giving my own analysis on the subject.

Agreed. Drew Miller @875K >>>>>>>>>>>Abdelkader.

I don't understand why people on this board would rather have Abby than Miller, but I guess it's because Abby hits, and (tries to) fight, although he sucks at it.

considering how little else separates the two, Gator's willingness to throw his weight around is a pretty big positive. Of course, Miller might be more than a space filler if he wasn't built like a bean pole. For being 6'2'', he has no mass and it shows whenever play ramps up physically.

Also, Gator's at least passable at center.

They're waiting on the new CBA because the salary cap will be lower which will make Abdelkaders cap hit lower

Maybe so. I still wouldn't say Gator is worth twice Miller's cap hit though.