Player Discussion: Scott Mayfield

[bigd]

Mayfield is a 6th defenseman who doesn’t skate well. I like the kid for depth but I don’t see the upside on him.

And we are stuck with him for 5 long years. Great signing by Garth?

 

[Sheva7]

And we are stuck with him for 5 long years. Great signing by Garth?

Nope lol

Decent enough bottom pair guy at the moment. Outside chance he turns into something better than that...but def not worthy of a 5yr deal

 

[BrockLobster]

Nope lol

Decent enough bottom pair guy at the moment. Outside chance he turns into something better than that...but def not worthy of a 5yr deal

If brian strait got a 4 year deal SM is def worthy of 5 years

 

[bigd]

If brian strait got a 4 year deal SM is def worthy of 5 years

If you don't mind not making the playoffs for the next 5 years.

 

[BrockLobster]

If you don't mind not making the playoffs for the next 5 years.

Isnt that a given?

 

[LeapOnOver]

Reading these make me laugh. Can replace Zdeno Chara's name with Scott Mayfield a few years in and these comments would echo themselves.

Not saying he's the next Zdeno Chara, but are we really stressing out on a minimal contract for a big bodied defenseman? Sometimes fans here act like it's either Prada or nothing. Nothing wrong with mixing in some TJ Maxx here and there....

 

[Finnislander]

Reading these make me laugh. Can replace Zdeno Chara's name with Scott Mayfield a few years in and these comments would echo themselves.

Not saying he's the next Zdeno Chara, but are we really stressing out on a minimal contract for a big bodied defenseman? Sometimes fans here act like it's either Prada or nothing. Nothing wrong with mixing in some TJ Maxx here and there....

Mayfields deal is not an albatross, but it was unnecessary. Mayfield would have gone thru waivers before the deal, and would go thru two times faster with his current contract. Snow put the bet on single number, hoping Scott would grow into another Chara, or even half of Chara. Im not saying it cant happen, but its unlikely. We have young D-men in the system who could fill in the 7th D for next five years, on ELC. Why pay 1,5M for a guy who is most likely eating popcorn half of the next 5 years.

We already have out fourth line locked for 12Mil a year for next 3 seasons. If you could save close to mil on your 7D, you should do it.

 

[scott99]

I really don’t think Mayfield is that bad. He’s a serviceable Dman for the bottom pairing, adds size and grit.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

"Serviceable" is the right word.

Has some heart and shows some fast hands and strong eye every now and again. One of the few guys with size on the team.

Can punish, can be beat. Had a few real bonehead plays this past season. Definitely has to work on decision making with the puck in his own zone.

Ironically, he was on pace for over 20 points each of the past two seasons.

I'm not worried about his contract, cause he's not earning much and is now cost-controlled SHOULD he blossom somehow. Stranger things have happened.

In fact, not worried in the least about his and Pelech's contracts. Pretty sure few astute hockey minds would see those contracts as anything but positive in the current market.

We have enough to bitch about when it comes to money being placed into Ladd (awful burden right now), Clutterbuck (has been dropping in efficiency season for season), Cizikas (rarely plays 65 games a season and had some poor nights this year), Leddy (must hope his defensive woes this season were only symptomatic of the team's defensive woes, because he was downright awful on some nights - offense dropped considerably after the first 25 games), and Boychuk (important guy who looks like damaged goods and has averaged just 65 GMs per the past 3 seasons).

In light of
- Tavares
- Greiss being the only goalie
- Halak/deHaan/Hickey as UFAs
- Nelson, Pulock, Davidson, and Toews as RFAs
- Lee and Eberle next summer
- Barzal, Beauvillier after that
the guys mentioned above are clearly the weights that management must work around.

 

[And You Feel Shame]

Mayfield would have gone thru waivers before the deal

I don't agree with this. I think Mayfield is exactly the kind of player that gets snapped up on waivers.

 

[MJF]

Reading these make me laugh. Can replace Zdeno Chara's name with Scott Mayfield a few years in and these comments would echo themselves.

Not saying he's the next Zdeno Chara, but are we really stressing out on a minimal contract for a big bodied defenseman? Sometimes fans here act like it's either Prada or nothing. Nothing wrong with mixing in some TJ Maxx here and there....

The trouble with our defense is it's all TJ Maxx with some Marshall's mixed in. We have no Prada and certainly could use some.

Mayfield is a big bodied defenseman who isn't very good at his job right now. Maybe he'll get better-defensemen take a little longer to mature. There was just no need to sign him to a 5 year deal as a project. Remember, Mayfield had been a healthy scratch 11 times when Snow gave re-signed him. Another head-scratcher from our incompetent GM.

 

[PK Cronin]

The trouble with our defense is it's all TJ Maxx with some Marshall's mixed in. We have no Prada and certainly could use some.

Mayfield is a big bodied defenseman who isn't very good at his job right now. Maybe he'll get better-defensemen take a little longer to mature. There was just no need to sign him to a 5 year deal as a project. Remember, Mayfield had been a healthy scratch 11 times when Snow gave re-signed him. Another head-scratcher from our incompetent GM.

Like most Snow moves, it's a fine move if it's looked at in a bubble. Long term signing with no financial commitment, probably isn't going to kill the team. The issue is that he gave Pelech a similar deal and now there's too many of these guys locked up on long term deals. How are we supposed to get the Prada without moving some of these deals that nobody is going to trade for?

 

[BarBeauWahlDobLok]

Doesn't he wear #42 because he's a mix of Bobby Orr and Brad Park?

 

[Brunomics]

I'm fine with Mayfield. Stick him on the bottom pair with Pelech and I won't complain. The issue has and still will be in the top 4. You have Leddy/Boychuk/Pulock. Basically a #3(Leddy is not a top pairing Dman) and two #4's.

That is what needs to be revamped as well as have some sort of defensive strategy to go along with the firepower.

 

[MJF]

Like most Snow moves, it's a fine move if it's looked at in a bubble. Long term signing with no financial commitment, probably isn't going to kill the team. The issue is that he gave Pelech a similar deal and now there's too many of these guys locked up on long term deals. How are we supposed to get the Prada without moving some of these deals that nobody is going to trade for?

Exactly. It’s fine on it’s own, but with Pelech and Boychuk and Leddy having long term deals, Snow is making it difficult on himself when it comes time to move one of these contracts so that guys like Toews and Aho aren’t blocked from moving up. And before someone says “Mayfield’s only making $1.4M it will be an easy contract to move” what team will take a defenseman like him who has 3 or 4 years left on that contract?

It’s bad roster construction and Snow paints himself into a corner with those contracts.

 

[seafoam]

What's the outlook on Mayfield next year, I see on here low end top 4 dman, who is good at jumping up in the rush and getting shots on net.... how good is he on the PK?

He’ll be on the bottom pairing when Boychuk and Pulock are healthy, where he belongs in my opinon.

He has the potential to be somewhere inbetween an Adam McQuaid/Kevan Miller level defenseman in my opinion.

 

[seafoam]

To those saying he was bad last year, that statement applies to 95% of the entire team and 100% of the defense.

There is an NHL defenseman in Mayfield, but it needs to be continued to be extracted. Not sure if their ringling-esque coaching staff will be able to do it however.

 

[crasherino]

Exactly. It’s fine on it’s own, but with Pelech and Boychuk and Leddy having long term deals, Snow is making it difficult on himself when it comes time to move one of these contracts so that guys like Toews and Aho aren’t blocked from moving up. And before someone says “Mayfield’s only making $1.4M it will be an easy contract to move” what team will take a defenseman like him who has 3 or 4 years left on that contract?

It’s bad roster construction and Snow paints himself into a corner with those contracts.

Plus, where was he going? Signing a guy like Barzal early to a cost controlled deal makes sense. But its not like Mayfield was about to sniff UFA. He was under team control for multiple years. Say what you want about Mayfield (I don't mind him really) but he's not an upside-type guy like....even Pelech. Mayfield - at his best - is a big, physical grinder who can pitch in every once in a while on offense. If he doesn't make bonehead mistakes and plays smart hockey, his upside is a 5-6 type defenseman. There's simply no pressing reason to sign him now. He would have agreed to the same deal in 2 years in all likelihood.

 

[2ndGenIslander]

sign anyone with upside. we're desperate.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Exactly. It’s fine on it’s own, but with Pelech and Boychuk and Leddy having long term deals, Snow is making it difficult on himself when it comes time to move one of these contracts so that guys like Toews and Aho aren’t blocked from moving up. And before someone says “Mayfield’s only making $1.4M it will be an easy contract to move” what team will take a defenseman like him who has 3 or 4 years left on that contract?

It’s bad roster construction and Snow paints himself into a corner with those contracts.

Any team in a cap crunch that needs a low cost defenseman locked in for salary purposes. Pretty much going to be A LOT of teams. I think any teams contending, will be suffering from cap issues and when it comes to putting a minimum salary career AHLer out there or only spending a little more for someone with experience, Mayfield would be a good choice for a lot of teams. I'm not sweating this at all...

 

[PK Cronin]

Any team in a cap crunch that needs a low cost defenseman locked in for salary purposes. Pretty much going to be A LOT of teams. I think any teams contending, will be suffering from cap issues and when it comes to putting a minimum salary career AHLer out there or only spending a little more for someone with experience, Mayfield would be a good choice for a lot of teams. I'm not sweating this at all...

It doesn't happen though because the only time Mayfield would be traded is if he's not playing well. If he plays well, then he's a bargain. Good teams pinched by the cap will go with shorter term guys on low salaries.

 

[seafoam]

12th overall, Bellows/Nelson, and Mayfield for Trouba.

 

[LeapOnOver]

It doesn't happen though because the only time Mayfield would be traded is if he's not playing well. If he plays well, then he's a bargain. Good teams pinched by the cap will go with shorter term guys on low salaries.

Depends on the timing. If Mayfield is playing well but getting pushed out by younger cheaper guys, or given up on early in the season teams might still see potential there. Point is there are a world of possibilities to go either way and the only downside, 1.4m for 5 years. Not a big downside.

 

[Finnislander]

Not a big downside, but unnecessary signing at the time. Like buying 2000 cans of beans when they are on sale. You propably never need them but they were cheap and if apocalypse comes you sure have a lot of beans.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Exactly. It’s fine on it’s own, but with Pelech and Boychuk and Leddy having long term deals, Snow is making it difficult on himself when it comes time to move one of these contracts so that guys like Toews and Aho aren’t blocked from moving up. And before someone says “Mayfield’s only making $1.4M it will be an easy contract to move” what team will take a defenseman like him who has 3 or 4 years left on that contract?

Actually, that's a pretty marketable contract and if worst came to worst, very easy and pain-free to buy out.

We're talking about money well-spent alone if Mayfield can play 50 games a year, put up 10 points, and keep a +/- around 0.

Pelech earns a slight bit more for the same amount of time to play 70 games, put up around 20 points, and go +5.

Mission accomplished.

Contractually, neither hurt us as 5/6/7 Dmen and if either turns into a minute-munching 30 point, +15 guy, then it's an absolute steal of a deal.

It’s bad roster construction and Snow paints himself into a corner with those contracts.

Bad roster construction is having Ladd, Cizikas, and Clutterbuck putting up a combined 70 points a year for 12.3 million per. Those are the contracts he's painting himself into a corner with, if at all.

Truth is though, it's the expected Tavares contract that will most put Snow or any GM into a real tight corner when viewing the entire pay structure. Don't know how they keep the Lees, Eberles, Barzals, and Beaus of the world in the years to come, much less add some heavy duty home run hitters to the effort?

The financial mobility afterwards will be difficult, but the Mayfields and Pelechs of the world will be the easiest guys to get rid of, if need be.