Well if it is a 2 year deal its good, and they will give him every opportunity to grab the job, I hope he can lol. Probably means bye bye Dan though. And hope Pickard pans out if not.
Yeah, it serves both parties well. Nashville has Pickard getting ready in Milwaukee so they don't want to totally eliminate the starter's job in Nashville, while Pekka hasn't played his best this season and this gives him a clear-cut No. 1 job heading into next season where he can hopefully rattle off a couple big years and sign a huge deal in a couple of summers at the age of 31.
Anything longer ties both parties hands. The Preds risk holding back a top prospect (which is fine if Pekka is playing lights out, but if not...) and Pekka risks having to settle for a discounted rate right now due to his inconsistent play this season and then also have missed his real prime earning window again as a UFA at the end of the deal if he signs for 3 or 4 years...
I don't think he's in a great bargaining position though. He can't really say, "Remember last year, when I was really good and consistent, and didn't regularly lose and re-gain the starting job? You really want to run the risk that I could do that again...in Detroit?"
A shorter deal for a little less money gives him the chance to EARN a big payday. Some Preds fans were predicting some crazy 5 year, 5 million per deal. We wouldn't give it to him, and no one would. Maybe his next contract looks like that, but I'd like to think we've learned a lesson on paying guys for "potential." We've got a few ugly contracts on our books due to that practice.
That would be awesome for the Predators, but I think Pekka would be crazy to sign it...
Too long for too little money...
I figure if you are going bother re-signing despite having UFA status just around the corner, it's going to be because you value security. To those types, ~$11M guaranteed is much better than ~$7M -- term notwithstanding.
How desperate are you willing to get for Ellis? JVR on the table? Maybe if we add Ryan Jones?
No, I doubt Poile will trade Ellis before the break and will simply allow him to play out his contract. We have no one ready to step in internally and acquiring someone off the scrap heap doesn't help us if Pekka gets injured or falters down the stretch...
How desperate are you willing to get for Ellis? JVR on the table? Maybe if we add Ryan Jones?
No, I doubt Poile will trade Ellis before the break and will simply allow him to play out his contract. We have no one ready to step in internally and acquiring someone off the scrap heap doesn't help us if Pekka gets injured or falters down the stretch...
By forward prospect, I believe he was referring to Maroon or Matsumoto, and definitely not JVR.
icon, but forgot...
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