Speculation: Early predictions: contracts for UFAs and RFAs next year

[Just Linda]

Easy enough imo

33 contracts right now.

Re-Sign: Armia, Lehkonen, Weal, Hudon, Thompson (because of his relationship with a certain UFA), Benn, Kulak, Reilly, Big Mac, Audette, Shinkaruk, Oulette, G Olofson,

Keep 2 spaces open for UFAs

Drop: Koberstein, Lernout,

Trade: 2 depth pieces of D (Reilly), 2 depth pieces at forward (Shinkaruk) for late draft picks

Be prepared to lose 2 players to waivers

Sign Walford and Tyszka

For me the only big decisions are on whether or not we want to keep Shinkaruk and G.Olofson as Laval pieces.

 

[montreal]

Easy enough imo

33 contracts right now.

Re-Sign: Armia, Lehkonen, Weal, Hudon, Thompson (because of his relationship with a certain UFA), Benn, Kulak, Reilly, Big Mac, Audette, Shinkaruk, Oulette, G Olofson,

Keep 2 spaces open for UFAs

Drop: Koberstein, Lernout,

Trade: 2 depth pieces of D (Reilly), 2 depth pieces at forward (Shinkaruk) for late draft picks

Be prepared to lose 2 players to waivers

Sign Walford and Tyszka

For me the only big decisions are on whether or not we want to keep Shinkaruk and G.Olofson as Laval pieces.

No way is Shinkaruk back, he was terrible. I think Benn is gone, Reilly gone, perhaps Lernout and Audette depending on who they plan on signing as vets and other moves.

 

[Just Linda]

No way is Shinkaruk back, he was terrible. I think Benn is gone, Reilly gone, perhaps Lernout and Audette depending on who they plan on signing as vets and other moves.

Let's look at it this way (chemistry, lines not considered, AHL NHL depth not xonsidered)
LW - C - RW
Tuna - Kotka - Gally
Drouin - Domi - Shaw
Lehkonen - Denault - Armia
Byron - Poehling - Weal
Thompson - pecan

AHL
Audette - Evans - Alain
Shinkaruk - Vejdemo - Wakid
Deso - Big Mac - Verbeek
Pezzatta - Belzille - Suzuki (numbers not position)
Teasdale


Mete - Weber
Kulak - Petry
Reilly - Juulsen
Benn - Folin

Oullet - Flurry
Alzner - Brook
Gustav - ?


Imo, id offer Shinkaruk an AHL contract, cut Lernout, Koberstein, Weise

Also UFA signings will make some players like Reilly trade bait

 

[montreal]

Let's look at it this way (chemistry, lines not considered, AHL NHL depth not xonsidered)
LW - C - RW
Tuna - Kotka - Gally
Drouin - Domi - Shaw
Lehkonen - Denault - Armia
Byron - Poehling - Weal
Thompson - pecan

AHL
Audette - Evans - Alain
Shinkaruk - Vejdemo - Wakid
Deso - Big Mac - Verbeek
Pezzatta - Belzille - Suzuki (numbers not position)
Teasdale


Mete - Weber
Kulak - Petry
Reilly - Juulsen
Benn - Folin

Oullet - Flurry
Alzner - Brook
Gustav - ?


Imo, id offer Shinkaruk an AHL contract, cut Lernout, Koberstein, Weise

Also UFA signings will make some players like Reilly trade bait

I wouldn't remotely consider bringing Shinkaruk back, just no way he's coming back. I don't think Reilly will have any trade value but if he does then so be it as I don't think he gets his QO. Weise I expect to see him in Laval next year. Sklenicka will be in Laval as well.

 

[Asamu]

I was wondering what kind of contract the Habs could give him ? 2 years / 2.5-2.8 mil ?? What about you guys? I still like him and he's part of a finnish connection we'll get in 3-4 years...Ikonen, Ylonen, Kotkaniemi.

 

[Tyson]

I was wondering what kind of contract the Habs could give him ? 2 years / 2.5-2.8 mil ?? What about you guys? I still like him and he's part of a finnish connection we'll get in 3-4 years...Ikonen, Ylonen, Kotkaniemi.

I would give him a 4 year x 3.

 

[montreal]

I was wondering what kind of contract the Habs could give him ? 2 years / 2.5-2.8 mil ?? What about you guys? I still like him and he's part of a finnish connection we'll get in 3-4 years...Ikonen, Ylonen, Kotkaniemi.

Leks is a tough one, he had a good 1st half, terrible 2nd half. I think they need to trade him since he's better at RW but they don't seem to want to play him there. If not maybe he gets a 1 year deal in the 1.5/1.75M range.

 

[26Mats]

Leks is a tough one, he had a good 1st half, terrible 2nd half. I think they need to trade him since he's better at RW but they don't seem to want to play him there. If not maybe he gets a 1 year deal in the 1.5/1.75M range.

Yeah I think that's what it will be - maybe 2 or 2.25, but I think your numbers are more accurate.

 

[Kraken Jokes]

What are some contract situation comparables to Armia, Lehkonen and Kulak?

What kinds of deals do you expect them to take?

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Lehk: 3 years at 2.25M
Armia: 2 years at 2.3M
Kulak: 3 years at 2.5M

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

Lehk: 3 years at 2.25M
Armia: 2 years at 2.3M
Kulak: 3 years at 2.5M

Too expensive for almost all of them.

Kulak was barely an NHLer before this year.
Armia might deserve around this amount, still hope for less.
Lehkonen has done nothing to deserve anything more than 1.75M and 1 year so far.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Too expensive for almost all of them.

Kulak was barely an NHLer before this year.
Armia might deserve around this amount, still hope for less.
Lehkonen has done nothing to deserve anything more than 1.75M and 1 year so far.

Cap has gone up and look at comparables. That's the type of money #5/3rd liners get.

 

[FrankMTL]

Cap has gone up and look at comparables. That's the type of money #5/3rd liners get.

I'm not willing to call Kulak a number 5 yet. I'd give him two years at 3.5 (total) max. I'd need to see a full year from him in the NHL.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

I'm not willing to call Kulak a number 5 yet. I'd give him two years at 3.5 (total) max. I'd need to see a full year from him in the NHL.

Kulak is more likely than not not even an NHL regular on most teams. 1.25M per year max.
The debate about Lehkonen is not as much about if he's worth it. It's about what does he add to the team that makes him a priority to be signed at this salary? I'd be packaging him somewhere for a pick or along with other pieces for a capable LD instead of spending up to 2.5M/year on him.

 

[FrankMTL]

Kulak is more likely than not not even an NHL regular on most teams. 1.25M per year max.
The debate about Lehkonen is not as much about if he's worth it. It's about what does he add to the team that makes him a priority to be signed at this salary? I'd be packaging him somewhere for a pick or along with other pieces for a capable LD instead of spending up to 2.5M/year on him.

I think you have to give him a little benefit of the doubt as he had a great year and he's only 25...Anyways, if we get him at 1.25 I would be thrilled but wouldn't count on it.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

I think you have to give him a little benefit of the doubt as he had a great year and he's only 25...Anyways, if we get him at 1.25 I would be thrilled but wouldn't count on it.

Then look elsewhere. You can replace a guy like Kulak easily on the UFA market for no more than 1M. People have a strong tendency to fall in love with their team, or to bash it nonstop. Is it too much to ask to stay in between?

 

[FrankMTL]

Then look elsewhere. You can replace a guy like Kulak easily on the UFA market for no more than 1M.

Well you have to find these guys and get them to sign in Montreal..easier said than done.

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

Well you have to find these guys and get them to sign in Montreal..easier said than done.

You speak as if guys like Kulak were high-level UFAs who have 10 teams calling them on June 25th... These guys often don't even get one-way contracts before July 15th +. If Kulak asks for anything close to 2M, let him walk and look for a decent replacement. We're talking about Kulak here, not Karlsson.

 

[FrankMTL]

You speak as if guys like Kulak were high-level UFAs who have 10 teams calling them on June 25th... These guys often don't even get one-way contracts before July 15th +. If Kulak asks for anything close to 2M, let him walk and look for a decent replacement. We're talking about Kulak here, not Karlsson.

Again, I didn't mention anything about Kulak being highly sought after. I agree, I wouldn't pay him 2 million. That's why I said two years at 3.5 million (total) max which is 1.75 million per year. If we can get him for less and he continues to impress on the bottom pairing, then great. Let's not pretend that Kulak didn't have a good year last year. He has more offensive potential than most of us thought. I don;'t think he'll be anything more than a number 5 or 6, but if he can be a solid bottom pairing dman at a very affordable cap hit (under 2% of total Team Cap), it would be a great scenario for us.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'm not willing to call Kulak a number 5 yet. I'd give him two years at 3.5 (total) max. I'd need to see a full year from him in the NHL.

Bergevin should try to get Kulak for a 3 year term at a solid AAV that is team friendly. I'd give him 3 years at $2M. However, I don't think they take that deal and it ends up being a one year deal at something like $1.5M or $1.75M. Call it a prove it for one year contract.

I think a 1 year deal for Kulak is the smart thing the more I think about it. How many more RFA years does he have? I'm guessing he turns UFA when he hits 27? That would be at the end of the 20/21 season. If correct, sign him for 1 or 2 years if the AAV is fair. Then we add Romanov to the mix

 

[Habs Halifax]

Again, I didn't mention anything about Kulak being highly sought after. I agree, I wouldn't pay him 2 million. That's why I said two years at 3.5 million (total) max which is 1.75 million per year. If we can get him for less and he continues to impress on the bottom pairing, then great. Let's not pretend that Kulak didn't have a good year last year. He has more offensive potential than most of us thought. I don;'t think he'll be anything more than a number 5 or 6, but if he can be a solid bottom pairing dman at a very affordable cap hit (under 2% of total Team Cap), it would be a great scenario for us.

What makes you think Kulak is playing bottom pairing after his last 30 game sample size? Do you think were getting someone better to play with Petry in UFA or in a trade or do you think Kulak is not good enough to play with Petry?

 

[Whitesnake]

So as of today, we have given 39 contract out of 50. Whose left?

• Hudon
• Lehkonen
• Armia
• Benn
• Reilly
• Audette
• McCarron
• Lernout
• Olofsson
• Backup goalie If Lindgren isn't the one

Which do you keep? Which do you say bye to. Which should you try to sign only AHL deals with? And shouldn'T we keep a few spots for Collegial/CHL free agents and July UFA's?

I also understand that you can package guys to make deals so it would give us more space...but let's pretend we don't...

 

[MSLs absurd thighs]

Keep: Lehkonen, Armia Lernout, Olofsson

Bringing us to 45. Backup goalie signed makes it 46. A UFA D and an UFA F. Making it 48.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

I'd say Reilly, Benn and Lernout are gone. I'm unsure for the other AHL guys.

 

[ahmedou]

#50LimitContracts2018/2019

Eleven contracts. Eleven players. Eleven choices and decisions.