I'm afraid to think about it but could Gallagher use Jeff Skinner as a comparable? I know Skinner just had a bad season, but both are small wingers, Gallagher has just under the pts/game and g/game and plays with all the heart in the world.
The fear is we start OVERpaying gallagher for years AFTER his prime...
We miraculously avoided it with Pacioretty but methinks we hang onto Gallagher longer than we should, instead of trading for a Suzuki level prospect
The fear is we start OVERpaying gallagher for years AFTER his prime...
We miraculously avoided it with Pacioretty but methinks we hang onto Gallagher longer than we should, instead of trading for a Suzuki level prospect
Not worried about Gallagher from 30-35. 35+ is the concern. So term is a big part of his next contract. He is 28 next year and starts his next contract at 29.. 29-33/34 would not be a bad deal IMO. 5 or 6 year deal at what? He is around players like Oshie, Konecny, Bailey, Nylander, Atkinson. Atkinson signed at age 29.. 7 years at $5.875M.
6 years at $6.5M is fair to both Gallagher and the team. We can find out what he will be looking for this next off season. If he starts at $8M and won't budge, I trade him.
You're not worried about Gallagher losing a step or two in his early 30s when he plays as hard as he does and gets so much punishment? Wow, I'd like to share your optimism on this, and if it were to be true, I'd be overjoyed, as I think our window will only open in about three more years, provided healthy development by everyone.
Gallagher as he is now would be a major player on that hopefully contending team, and with more depth might be able to run rough-shod against lower defensive pairings if we have guys like Caufield, KK and Suzuki (maybe a high-end UFA like Taylor Hall if we're lucky) to face top-end defensemen.
Decline happens typically to players with elite level skating and that drops off in their 30's (A player like Gomez for example). Gallagher is a fitness freak and plays a style that is more energy and hard work than creating time and space with his skating.
I would have no problems with 6 years at $6.5M (Age 29-34). However, if he ask for $8M when we talk to him this off season, I consider trading him if he don't budge of that AAV.
I'd be more comfortable with a 5-year term, at about 6.5M$ to about 7 or 7.5M$, but anything more than that, or more than 6 years, and I think we'd have to trade him, even though it would suck.
No Gallagher no Party fr...
Gallagher: Captain + Stanley Cup champion > $$$The fear is we start OVERpaying gallagher for years AFTER his prime...
We miraculously avoided it with Pacioretty but methinks we hang onto Gallagher longer than we should, instead of trading for a Suzuki level prospect
Deserves whatever he wants. Imagine if we had twenty talented Gallaghers on ice... We'd have been at the seventh heaven rn.Just imagine a scenario where Gallagher plays on Sids wing! It would be a thing of beauty and Gally would be a 40 goal man.
The fear is we start OVERpaying gallagher for years AFTER his prime...
We miraculously avoided it with Pacioretty but methinks we hang onto Gallagher longer than we should, instead of trading for a Suzuki level prospect