Generational misunderstanding
How long has the league had so many RFA strikers? Of course, no, and the 2019 off-season was a big nightmare. Young star players such as Point, Linet, Marner, Rantanen, Bosser, Tkachuk, Verenski, Makevoi, Connor, Carlo and Provorov decided to seek better conditions for themselves. Adequate desire, right?
But not everything is so bright, have they all earned the contracts they want? I think not.
Take, for example, Lainet - the guy clearly caught a star. Is he a star himself? Rather, yes, we all had time to see him as a sniper, but it needs to be developed, and not enough of that, we need to grow as a person. Linet wants to be among the best in adored Winnipeg. And what did he do for this? Does leadership have qualities? Maybe he has already learned to give interviews, after which the captain, coach, and others (according to Laina, unworthy) players need to resolve the said young man? There are some stellar deposits, but the guy doesn't want to work. How many really cool talented guys have we seen, who were ruined by their pride and unwillingness to work to be even better. Perfect doesn't exist.
What is Point? There is no such dirt on it. But why not sign up with the team, which - for a minute! - one of the most powerful at the moment in the league. Yes, he is stable, he is good in the game on both halves of the court. He reads the game, not by years. But is it really bad to sign up with a contender, for example, for 3 years with 8 million ZP? Proving to everyone who doubts that his first three years in the league is not an accident. You should agree that Point does not cause the feeling that he is an absolute top, and that without the help of the Tampa team he will keep the same effective bar. This is, of course, a subjective thought, but I stick to it concerning Point.
Rantanen is, of course, a tough hockey player of the highest caliber. But is he worth the 11 million who are so eager? Mikko, relying on Marner's signature, seems to think he's completely equal to him. If Finn and his agent have been waiting for Marner's contract for so long, then it is clear that he is definitely worse than Mitchell, if he is trying to imitate in questions of such a powerful contract. These aren't role-players with agents looking at each other. This is another level of negotiations. Of course, there should be some guidelines, but this is too much. And I understand Joe Sakic: to give a contract that is almost twice the size of McKinnon's contract is extremely unfair. After all, Nathan is the best in his team, and among the best in the league at the moment. My opinion was influenced by the second round of playoffs in 2019. In one of the matches in the series, McKinnon got his hand injured and went to the locker room. After his departure, the usually fast-moving Colorado got up like a dugout. The players did not understand what to do, how to do without Nathan. And now she had the opportunity for Rantanen to take everything into her own hands, get the players and show them how to fight. But what did I see? Rantanen was confused, yes, he was trying to create something in someone else's area, to pull the puck out of his when the Sharks started locking Colorado up, but there was a lot of marriage in his actions, confusion. He was personally locked up one to two times. During this time, while McKinnon was gone, I saw the full significance of Nathan. When McKinnon came out on the ice with an injury and under a shot, he rushed forward and the whole team woke up. They lost the series, but I don't have a single question about who's the best in Colorado right now. Nathan - that's who should get 11 million, but not Mikko. That's the problem that by paying so much money to Finn, Sakik will not create the best atmosphere in the team. Of course, it wasn't Rantanen and McKinnon's fault that everybody had such contract periods. But if Sakik signs Mikko for 11 million a year, how much will he have to pay Nathan? 15 million? I am not an expert, but I think that 9-9.5 million a year is a red price for Rantanen.
Colorado wants to sign a six- to eight-year contract with Mikko Rantanen with a salary of $8.4-8.75 million per season, according to reports in the last hours. While I was writing this text, it was reported that the parties were close to signing a contract of 9.5 million a year for a period of 4-5 years.
Sakic clearly sees the value of the Finn, well done.
Don't worry, I'm not going to write about each of the above. Especially since many of them have already signed their contracts at the beginning of the training camps. I'd like to note that Makevoy, Carlo, Verenski, and Bosser signed adequately. They overpaid for Prozorov, but Philadelphia in its own style.
Many of these RFAs outraged me, but what Ottawa did with her best young defender blew my mind.
Dorion decided to show everyone what a visionary manager he was. 8 million for 8 years.
That's how a player who played 134 games at the NHL can sign a contract for $64 million.
I fully agree with Jeremy Roenick's statement, he's always speaking clearly and on the case. "The contracts in today's NHL just blow my mind... I remember when I had to earn a really high salary, but now they're just being given and hoping it all works out! Madness.
I am happy for Thomas Szabo. He is a great guy, he has talent. But it's amazing that for 80 career points these days you can get $64 million for 8 years," wrote Roenick.
The contracts in today's NHL are exploding my brain. But if you don't give in to emotions and think a little bit, you can see several reasons for everything that is happening.
My vision is that many young players should look at some players with a big name. For example, Joe Thornton. I did not name him now because I am a fan of San Jose. It's just that this Canadian veteran has a certain style of contractual relationship with the clubs all his career. Jumbo should serve as one of the best examples for young people, but they don`t care about anything. Actually, when was it different?
Joe signs contracts for most of his career for 3 years. In order not to become a burden for the club, if a career goes to hell because of injuries. To be evaluated adequately in short periods of time, and, finally, to always get the market value in case of changes in the league salary ceilings. And always be in the trend, not offended by the fact that once signed a long agreement, which is now disadvantageous. You should agree that you have a competitive attitude to the case. Plus, the player is confident that he signs such contracts, understands that he is a professional and will always remain at his level.
to be continued in the next part