Is Tatar worth that kind of contract? Sure. This isn't like Abbie who, as a player, had no business getting that deal, and it's not like Nielsen who I don't think was even slightly worth the contract we gave him.
Does this contract help the team in any way? No. Not now and not in 4 years. Tatar should've been traded last year, and he certainly should've been traded this year. Bringing him back for four years, on a team he will never contribute to in a meaningful way, is moronic.
There will be reasons, and he will traded on the last year of the contract (that bonus structure is pretty obvious for that). That's how his value is transferred to future assets.
Tatar could have been traded at last season, but maybe there wasn't a reasonable market this time. We were all hoping for Vatanen, but Anaheim decided to keep him, went after older 1-season wonder Eaves and who knows if our right-handed kid defencemen could equal Vatman very soon. Multiple factors.
You think he'll actually get traded with this new contract in place? That would be surprisingly un-Holland. Further, do you think the fans would rather watch Tatar, or see a vaguely competitive team in the next decade? There are still no rational reasons for re-signing him long term
This "un-Hollanding" is just you living on the past. Kenny is already selling people, but also HIRING FREE ASSETS. So he can sell more other people. And the circle will go around-and-around. Formerly bought, even older UFA is a free asset, and will be sold later on the contract and new signed in. At same time as we rebuild. Hoards picks and free agents. Sell free agents for picks. Repeat, repeat and repeat.
Then we will have prospect goldmine, which will turn to a contender, when those best and highest-drafted prospects will hit on their prime.
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Normal Ken Holland was losing draft picks for veterans on almost every trade he made.
So far, he hasn't done that kind of trade for over 2 years. Latest was a 3rd rounder for Zidlicky, on 2nd March, 2015.
Since that trade, it has been an opposite direction, draft picks coming in for rentals/veterans/Jurcoes. Sadowy trade was kind of an exeption, a 3rd for a young player.
So this un-Hollandin has been already going on for 2 years and you guys just refuse seeing it. Whining with blind eyes.