Yeah I saw that about making him a healthy scratch and I agree that’s not gonna help, but that’s not the same as wanting him off the team completely.
Player decline can happen quite suddenly. It’s a fine line between being a valuable player and a liability, when you already have some very apparent deficiencies. If Dougie loses even just half a step on his already below par skating speed, that could be lights out right there on its own. It happens to guys in his age range all the time.
The Dougie contract could get ugly at the end. It’s not exactly a bargain right now.
But if you liked winning last year then you had to like his 22 goals and 74 points. Nemec could be a strong PP performer in NHL, but he won’t score like Dougie.
Some posters act like it’s a problem right now and it’s not. He’ll have four years left after this season.
He’s not going anywhere next season with his full no trade clause. If he stays productive he probably could moved, likely with some salary retained. The projected big bump in the salary cap would help make his salary more palatable.
Older defensemen get some term.
Ekholm got 4 year/6.25m in Oct 2021, at 31 years 4 months.
Petry got 4 year/ 6.125m in Sep 2020, at 32 years 9 months.
Letang got 6 year/6.1m in July 2022, at 35 years 2 months.
Brent Burns
Term left at trade: 3 years
Age at trade: 37 years 4 months
Salary Cap in 22/23: 82.5m
Erik Karlsson
Term left at trade: 4 years
Age at trade: 33 years 2 months
Salary Cap in 23/24: 83.5m
