Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Martin Havlat (1 year, $1.5M)

[MartyOwns]

The price is right the term is great but can he stay healthy and produce?

at 1.5 and with 67 forwards signed, does it matter if he stays healthy? personally, if he plays 60 games and get 15 goals, I'll consider that an overwhelming success. and, given the right linemates, that scenario is certainly possible

 

[NC107*]

If he stays healthy he will produce. He can still play and will be motivated with a new team and his best buddy Patty. Patty seems ready to help him get back to it too.

I would like to see this work out. I trust Patty and his thinking.

 

[NC107*]

at 1.5 and with 67 forwards signed, does it matter if he stays healthy? personally, if he plays 60 games and get 15 goals, I'll consider that an overwhelming success. and, given the right linemates, that scenario is certainly possible

Great way to look at it but we both know the 67 forwards can't stay.

 

[Game Breaker]

There's no real downside to this. He's a scorer practically here for free for a year. He isn't taking a spot away from one of the kids, and even if he plays 30 games, who cares? Absolutely worth it.

 

[glenwo2]

It's basically a Sykora-signing(as I call it). He'll have one season where, hopefully, he stays healthy and is able to contribute with no real risk long-term for the team contract-wise.

 

[Semak]

For the term and price, can't complain.

 

[Devilsfan992]

Good teambuilding acquisition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JnTRYPg2OA

LOL, I don't even have sound on my PC and this is ****ing hilarious. Patty

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Zero risk. Very smart signing. If he shows some chemistry with his countrymen this can be a very rewarding move.

 

[PercivalGraves]

Very good signing .

 

[devilsblood]

Im totally cool with this. So cheap and 1 year? Why the heck not?

Even if/when he gets hurt it's cool cause it allows young guns to come up for a month.

 

[Camille the Eel]

guess im alone in disliking this

No you have company - another older player past his prime, another signal that Lou plans to follow the same mold, don't really rebuild, don't get or develop the strong center ice presence you need, don't trust youth, instead reproduce an aging Czech national team.

 

[Buggsy]

No you have company - another older player past his prime, another signal that Lou plans to follow the same mold, don't really rebuild, don't get or develop the strong center ice presence you need, don't trust youth, instead reproduce an aging Czech national team.

The only forwards we have in youth are better off having to earn spots than being thrust into them.

 

[StnTwnDevil]

It's basically a Sykora-signing(as I call it). He'll have one season where, hopefully, he stays healthy and is able to contribute with no real risk long-term for the team contract-wise.

I think there is more upside to this signing though. Havlat is younger, and would be at least a 40 pt guy if playing the full season. He's still a very good player when healthy. Obviously it seems unlikely he'll stay healthy, but if he does, it'll be a great signing.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

wow I could have sworn Havlat was 3 or 4 years older than 33...

 

[JRZ DVLS]

wow I could have sworn Havlat was 3 or 4 years older than 33...

Thats because he's been in the league since he was 18. Dude has a lot of miles on his les. Lets hope he can get some of that young magic he once had with Ottawa. Iam hoping less travel will help him. Low risk here. Always liked the way he has played, hes just had a bit too much of the injury bug.

 

[The Wumpus]

Going way back... was Havlat the one who de-eyed Brian Berard? Or was it Hossa?

 

[glenwo2]

Going way back... was Havlat the one who de-eyed Brian Berard? Or was it Hossa?

Hossa.

 

[Bleedred]

The more I think about it, the more I think this signing was good.

Would have been annoyed if this was our big acquisition and not Cammalleri, but it wasn't our only move thankfully.

It's a dude that has skills that we could use more. If he can stay healthy, he will help us. It's not another grinder either, so that is a huge plus.

 

[The Wumpus]

Hossa.

Not that it matters, but for some reason I have a memory of Havlat taking out someone's eye on a follow-through.

Might just be confusing Ottawa skill guys with 'H' names.

 

[Wingman77]

“I’m happy to be on a good team where I actually know a few guys. That should make it easier at the start,”

“And for sure a few of the Czech boys help. That was one of the reasons, too.”

 

[glenwo2]

“I’m happy to be on a good team where I actually know a few guys. That should make it easier at the start,â€

“And for sure a few of the Czech boys help. That was one of the reasons, too.â€

Patty being called a "Czech BOY". I'm sure he's amused.

 

[Tedenboozled]

I like it. Sykora experiment revisited. No risk, variable reward - hope he takes some lessons from Jagr on staying healthy

 

[Bleedred]

Hey I said I didn't want the guy before free agency started. I never thought 1 year at $1.5 million would be a possibility though.

I was afraid he'd be a 2-3 year deal at $3 million per season. Havlat is still a decent player when healthy. He just seems to have problems actually staying healthy. Still a no risk signing, and a much better bargain bin signing that frickin Olesz or Butler. That's for damn sure.

 

[glenwo2]

Hey I said I didn't want the guy before free agency started. I never thought 1 year at $1.5 million would be a possibility though.

I was afraid he'd be a 2-3 year deal at $3 million per season. Havlat is still a decent player when healthy. He just seems to have problems actually staying healthy. Still a no risk signing, and a much better bargain bin signing that frickin Olesz or Butler. That's for damn sure.

Would love for him to give us 20+ goals like Sykie did.

 

[Devil X]

Would love for him to give us 20+ goals like Sykie did.

If you look at the guys numbers he puts up points when he is playing. If Elias and Jagr can work with him on not putting himself in bad positions to get banged up then we might be in good shape.

I havent watched him much over his career, what kind of injuries has he had? Because of hits? or just body breaking down stuff?