Free Agency thread part II

[Runner77]

The 2016 free agency class doesn't hold a candle to this year's free agency crop. The likes of Lucic, Eriksson, and Brower have nothing on Panarin, Duchene, and Karlsson. These are elite players. Those guys in 2016 were just players whose contracts were up.

I don't think signing any of these guys will make GMs regret throwing money and term at them.

Not saying those 2016 UFAs were elite but seems to me they were chased for a reason. I think it has to do with roster-building approaches that a lot of GMs shared since all of those players received a lot of interest and major money and term commitments were made.

 

[CoopersFalls]

I don’t know what it would cost or what the market would be, but I’d be real interested in bringing in Simmonds for two years or less. We need a big mean forward.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I don’t know what it would cost or what the market would be, but I’d be real interested in bringing in Simmonds for two years or less. We need a big mean forward.

No longer interested in him. Was the last few seasons. But now as a UFA, I'd pass.

 

[CoopersFalls]

No longer interested in him. Was the last few seasons. But now as a UFA, I'd pass.

I expect that to be the consensus around here, but I like to give a guy the benefit of the doubt when relatively young and a sudden decline.

 

[Sterling Archer]

I don’t know what it would cost or what the market would be, but I’d be real interested in bringing in Simmonds for two years or less. We need a big mean forward.

Haaard pass on Simmonds. Over the hill.

 

[WeThreeKings]

They will whiff on Karlsson, Duchene, Panarin and over compensate by paying wayyyyy too much for Lee.

 

[Runner77]

They will whiff on Karlsson, Duchene, Panarin and over compensate by paying wayyyyy too much for Lee.

Not exactly a far out scenario given how the Habs have fared in past UFA auctions.

 

[Sterling Archer]

They will whiff on Karlsson, Duchene, Panarin and over compensate by paying wayyyyy too much for Lee.

I wouldn’t mind Lee. Think he’s just what we need. Just not for more than $7M.

 

[sampollock]

I hope MB has it in him, to land a decent UFA, but time will tell....

 

[Tyson]

Haaard pass on Simmonds. Over the hill.

Same age as Pacioretty, Kane, Jamie Benn....how did he fall so fast?

 

[Runner77]

I hope MB has it in him, to land a decent UFA, but time will tell....

I hate that we have to attach the verb "hope" to MB in a lot of posts, this time of year. Only wish we could just count on him to do what's needed.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Same age as Pacioretty, Kane, Jamie Benn....how did he fall so fast?

Just a lot of hard miles on that body. You can only sustain that for so long. Add that to the new style NHL and he’s just not going to cut it as a top line player anymore.

 

[Tyson]

Just a lot of hard miles on that body. You can only sustain that for so long. Add that to the new style NHL and he’s just not going to cut it as a top line player anymore.

His numbers have spiraled downward in a huge way the last couple of years

 

[Chili]

And they are, but we have yet to have a player like panarin reach free agency. Maybe tavares. For me you pay for elite. like tavares. not a good player

I am very interested to see the final results of the free agent contracts this summer and how much fiscal responsibility teams will show. I didn't look this up, but apparently the teams who made the final four had no players making more then $8 million a season.

How much has/will the Tavares contract handcuff the Leafs going forward? We shall see but they have an interesting summer ahead.

 

[sampollock]

I hate that we have to attach the verb "hope" to MB in a lot of posts, this time of year. Only wish we could just count on him to do what's needed.

True, seems fans can quote the oresser before it happens!

He might surprise us this year, lol

 

[the]

I don't mind Simmonds as our yearly 2$ lotto scratchy.

 

[Deebs]

Huge no on Simmonds. Damaged goods

 

[Runner77]

Huge no on Simmonds. Damaged goods

Scott, King, Ott, Alzner, Simmonds.

Gotta pass the torch.

 

[le_sean]

Really feel they will push hard for Duchene and get him. Might be an overpayment coming, but I don’t think Bergevin let’s him get away.

 

[Tiger Svoboda]

I hate that we have to attach the verb "hope" to MB in a lot of posts, this time of year. Only wish we could just count on him to do what's needed.

At the end the players will decide. If they prefer somewhere else MB cannot do much about it.

There is 3-4 very good players with 30 teams going after them. I know it’s hard to understand and we need somebody to blame.

 

[webersshot]

I'd be ok with Simmonds at the right price.

 

[26Mats]

Really feel they will push hard for Duchene and get him. Might be an overpayment coming, but I don’t think Bergevin let’s him get away.

Bergevin's pretty conservative, unless he really likes a player. He's not one to commit to a player long term past 33. Weber is the exception.

 

[Deebs]

I'd be ok with Simmonds at the right price.

He'll pay us?

 

[le_sean]

Bergevin's pretty conservative, unless he really likes a player. He's not one to commit to a player long term past 33. Weber is the exception.

He’s tried the long term contracts before with other players and struck out. He’s willing.

 

[Runner77]

At the end the players will decide. If they prefer somewhere else MB cannot do much about it.

There is 3-4 very good players with 30 teams going after them. I know it’s hard to understand and we need somebody to blame.

MB has a job to do regardless of what the players decide.

Also, everyone understands the concept of an UFA market and how the offeree holds the cards. It's not about assigning blame, it's just about doing one's job and letting the chips fall where they may. There is no blame to assign until there is blame to assign -- perhaps that's a concept that is lost on some.

There is really no value to pre-emptively turn on the Bergevin-can-do-no-wrong phasers in another woe-is-me soliloquy. To each his own.