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Those teams have their fair share of bad contracts as well...
Ottawa, you can really only argue:
- Kovalev at 5M (which I think is fine, a bit much, but not "bad")
- Cheechoo at 3M (AHL)
- Leclaire 3.8M (jury is still out)
- Kelly 2M (I'm fine with this)
- Fisher 4.2M (I'm fine with this too)
Ottawa, you can really only argue:
- Kovalev at 5M (which I think is fine, a bit much, but not "bad")
- Cheechoo at 3M (AHL)
- Leclaire 3.8M (jury is still out)
- Kelly 2M (I'm fine with this)
- Fisher 4.2M (I'm fine with this too)
Who else?
Well i didn't intend it to be a pick on Ottawa post...really i think most teams have at least a few bad contracts.
Obviously Cheechoo and LeClaire are flat out bad contracts. I also think that Fisher and Spezza are probably a bit overpaid but they are pretty good contributors so the deals arn't horrible by any stretch.
Those teams have their fair share of bad contracts as well...
Difference is a "bad contract" like Hordichuk's $700K is only $200K over the league minimum. Anything else? Bernier at $2.5 million? Johnson at $1.1 million? At least they're still on the roster unlike Laraque. M. Schneider was a bad contract that was corrected by being dealt for a late round pick.
It's more than whether a contract is "bad" - it's the cap hit that's more relevant (eg., you can afford a few Hordichuk bad contracts vs a Gomez contract).
Those teams have their fair share of bad contracts as well...
Vancouver
Bieksa ($3.750)
Salo ($3.500)
Demitra ($4.000)
Only three noteworthy bad contracts in Vancouver and there is something of an excuse for all three. Bieksa has been injured, albeit suffering a down year. Salo is always injured which is the sole reason his contract his a slight hindrance and Demitra's comes off upon season's end. Given the success the Canucks have had in spite of injuries to their defensive line and the remainder of their contracts, they would probably rank in the top five for superior salary management. Gillis is frankly a genius and if he signs Kesler under five million that notion if only further affirmed.
Edit: I suppose you could include Bernier who I neglected. That would be the only nigh defenseless bad contract in Vancouver.
Calgary has more of an argument although I believe Stajan could turn into a reasonable contract once this disastrous year concludes. Bouwmeester is having an off season alongside a vast majority of the Calgary roster, similar to Bourque given the salary. Kotalik is definitely overpaid however in the Flames' defense the two worst contracts under their belt now belong to Toronto and New York. I question the Sutters sanity, especially with the New York trade although I ultimately agree moving Phaneuf was a wise decision. With the likelihood of the Flames bottoming out, I believe they are in need of a rebuild, perhaps more of a makeshift variation in comparison to say what Montreal attempted which begs to inquiry why Sutter took on excess dollars when Jokinen's five million was coming off the books.
And Ottawa has been covered. Suffice to say Calgary is the worst of the three and Vancouver has no business being managed amongst either, as noted they have phenomenal salary management, barring a potential Kesler and/or Raymond overpayment.
Calgary has more of an argument although I believe Stajan could turn into a reasonable contract once this disastrous year concludes. Bouwmeester is having an off season alongside a vast majority of the Calgary roster, similar to Bourque given the salary.
Kotalik is overpaid, no argument here. The others listed I would argue against them being "bad" contracts. Regardless of what numbers Bouwmeester has he's a stud and deserves the money. Stajan is iffy but I think he gets more on the open market, not a great contract but wouldn't say bad. Bourque (3.33M cap hit next year) is fair cap hit/money wise. If the Bourque-Stajan-Iginla line remains intact for next year Bourque could be reaching towards 30 goals which would make this contract great (for the time being). It's the length that might make it a bad contract, or injury problems.
However, Langkow (4.5), Hagman (3.0), Sarich (3.6) and Staios(2.7) are contracts for next year I'd find much harder to argue against them being called bad contracts. I do like what I've seen from Staios so far but probably would call it a bad contract if he was still with the Oilers especially since he's going to be 37.
Maybe if Slats did sign him we could then trade him back to MTL, take almost no salary back, and get their top prospect again. That was fun.
Trying to bait much?
Pleks earning under 5 mil imo is fair and 5.5 is slight overpayment...but 20 goals for 4 straight seasons, excellent two way player, pk, and min 40 assists per season...doesnt sound like gomez's contract and much more consistent goal scorer than gomez...
Calgary has more of an argument although I believe Stajan could turn into a reasonable contract once this disastrous year concludes. Bouwmeester is having an off season alongside a vast majority of the Calgary roster, similar to Bourque given the salary. Kotalik is definitely overpaid however in the Flames' defense the two worst contracts under their belt now belong to Toronto and New York. I question the Sutters sanity, especially with the New York trade although I ultimately agree moving Phaneuf was a wise decision. With the likelihood of the Flames bottoming out, I believe they are in need of a rebuild, perhaps more of a makeshift variation in comparison to say what Montreal attempted which begs to inquiry why Sutter took on excess dollars when Jokinen's five million was coming off the books.
kotalik, stagan and bouwmeester deserve to be in the "bad contract" list, but rene bourque contract isnt that bad.
he really earned the money he got with 2 exceptional seasons in calgary, he given a little more time, can be a 30 goal scorer.
Pleks earning under 5 mil imo is fair and 5.5 is slight overpayment...but 20 goals for 4 straight seasons, excellent two way player, pk, and min 40 assists per season...doesnt sound like gomez's contract and much more consistent goal scorer than gomez...
I definitely agree, I think it would be a steal for someone to sign Pleks in the 4.5 - 5 mill range.
He can also be a little bit of a pest too which is always a good thing.
Montreal may have some expensive contracts but I don't think any of the guys attached to them are bad.
Hamerlik's contract stands out but that was the price to pay 4 years ago. He's a great #3 or 4 man but costs too much on the cap.
Spacek at 3.8 may be expensive, but he was Buffalo's # 1 guy last year and has been really playing well lately. Especially since Markov is back. He is now playing the role he was hired for.
We inherited Gomez's contract, he's expensive but he's looking awesome now that he has linemates to play with. He has 4 years left and the last 2 are at 5.5 and 4.5. Unfortunately the hit is for more than 7.
Cammalleri and Gionta are probably 1 miilion each overpaid, but I'm glad they are on the team.
Gill is problem at 2.5. He does a good job on the P-kill but I could probably do without him in 2010-11
laraque was a total waste and we still owe him 1.5 for next season
We also have some very underpaid guys
Pleks at 2.5
Gorges at 1.1
Pouilot at .800
Halak at .775
In a perfect world we get rid of hamerlik 5.5
Get rid of Gill at 2.5
Mara is gone 1.675
Save .750 on Laraque because we wrote him off
Metro will be replaced 1.0
MAB is questoionnable at .750
So that would be over 12 million to play + we have 2.5 in space, so that 14.5 to play with
2 million goes to Pleks 4.75
1.2 million to Halak 2.0
1.2 to Pouilot 2.0
thats less than 5 million with over 9 left to spend
2 million to fix some of the other UFA salaries
Probably will need 2 million more for Markov in following year
And will probably deal a goalie end of next season
