Confirmed with Link: Middleton signs for 3 years x $2.4m AAV

[Bazeek]

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[TaLoN]

Good deal

 

[Wabit]

It's fair. I think I last had him at a $2.5m x 3.

 

[MuckOG]

Nice. Was hoping he'd be back

 

[Bazeek]

It's fair. I think I last had him at a $2.5m x 3.

Yeah, Middleton isn't a player that's inspired any strong opinions from me yet, but the contract seems fine and we do lack size on the back end. One offseason checkbox checked.

 

[Spurgeon]

I really don’t think he’s anything special. Not sure why we have 5 LDs on the roster either.

 

[Al Lagoon]

He seems to be beloved by teammates, so there's that. And yeah, he did well in his stint last season too.

 

[BagHead]

Decent deal, very close to what I expected. A steal if he actually logs big minutes well.

I really don’t think he’s anything special. Not sure why we have 5 LDs on the roster either.

With this signing, I would be surprised if they didn't trade one.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

Didn’t/don’t really see the infatuation with him as a player, hopefully with more games under his belt he’ll bring a little more, but there is definitely a chance this turns into a good value with that aav but I don’t see him as a top-4 defensemen on a top tier team.

 

[Spurgeon]

With this signing, I would be surprised if they didn't trade one.

The only one they really can trade is Kulikov, which would make sense. I still am incredibly confused by the Goligoski extension.

 

[TaLoN]

Didn’t/don’t really see the infatuation with him as a player, hopefully with more games under his belt he’ll bring a little more, but there is definitely a chance this turns into a good value with that aav but I don’t see him as a top-4 defensemen on a top tier team.

It's more that he was better than all the other options, not that he was particularly special, other than providing some size and physicality while being responsible

 

[Spurgeon]

It's more that he was better than all the other options, not that he was particularly special, other than providing some size and physicality while being responsible

He’s a very unremarkable player. I guess being unnoticeable is a trait of a good defenseman, but I have significant doubts about him performing well with Spurgeon over the course of an entire year.

It’s not an expensive contract, but it’s another one of these $2-3M contracts being allocated to a meh player. Would rather combine his cap with Kulikov/Goligoski and target an actual Top 4 defenseman.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

It's more that he was better than all the other options, not that he was particularly special, other than providing some size and physicality while being responsible

I see your point but I guess I’m just confused on what we’re doing on the backend in general. We have three bottom pairing LHDs that I’m sure are good dudes and all, but this direction just doesn’t make sense.

 

[BagHead]

The only one they really can trade is Kulikov, which would make sense. I still am incredibly confused by the Goligoski extension.

That was exactly the one I was meaning.

 

[Wabit]

I see your point but I guess I’m just confused on what we’re doing on the backend in general. We have three bottom pairing LHDs that I’m sure are good dudes and all, but this direction just doesn’t make sense.

Middleton is the only one that pairs up well with Spurgeon. Spurgeon can be used in all situations, not just the sheltered role he was in last season.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Decent.

 

[57special]

Decent signing. I am ok with Middleton. He is a decent defender who is reasonably tough. MN needs some good defensive Dmen that can push back against physical forwards.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Now trade kulikov and 24oa to move up! Jk but he should for sure be traded for a pick asap.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Even if he ends up the defensive guy on a 3rd pair with Addison, it's still fine.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Overpaid by $500k. Typical Guerin

 

[keppel146]

Overpaid by $500k. Typical Guerin

More reasonable than dumba’s contract

 

[Minnesota]

Overpaid by $500k. Typical Guerin

You expected a top-4 dman at $1.9M AAV?

 

[Digitalbooya]

You expected a top-4 dman at $1.9M AAV?

I don’t think Middleton is a top 4 dman. He’s a worse Soucy.

 

[AKL]

You expected a top-4 dman at $1.9M AAV?

Well we got a first line center for 1.7M so

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I don’t think Middleton is a top 4 dman. He’s a worse Soucy.

And he's making less than Soucy, so all is right.