These are the same GMs who are ponying up long term deals to players who are 30+. Granted, Anderson is not in the same stratosphere as say a Huberdeau, but the thinking is the same -- most of the time they are not looking for full performance over the term of the deal, only over a certain number of years.
)I don't think they are though. Hughes and Gorton hired a coach that has scratched Drouin, Dadonov, Armia, and Hoffman multiple times and put Pitlick through waivers to keep Slafkovsky in the lineup. They've scratched Wideman on multiple occasions to keep Harris/Kovacevic/Xhekaj in the lineup as well. They're not benching young players for making a single defensive miscue, nor are they bringing rookies into the lineup while trying to compete. It's a pretty different environment and strategy IMO.
Oh! KH will find a fish there's absolutely 0 doubt. But the return might not be what people are expecting if he's traded now. Lot of teams wont be able to find the space. If he keeps scoring at a 20 goals rate his value will be higher in two years after the cap has increased and there will be less year remaining to his contract and he'll be "only" 30.These are the same GMs who are ponying up long term deals to players who are 30+. Granted, Anderson is not in the same stratosphere as say a Huberdeau, but the thinking is the same -- most of the times they are not looking for full performance over the term of the deal, only over a certain number of years.
The good thing about Anderson is that the major injury he suffered scared off a lot of potential suitors at the time he signed his extension and luckily it has not been an issue since.
Also of note, Anderson began his deal at age 26 and he'll be only 32 by the time it ends, so the risk of a severe decline is minimized.
I'd like to believe that there are plenty of GMs who want that contract:
- there are not a lot of players who have the size, speed and grit that Anderson has
- a lot of GMs are smitten by the unicorn factor of the power forward profile
- cap will rise in 1-2 years making his contract very digestible
- even if one argues that Anderson is overpaid now, it's not by all that much
- plus, most importantly, he's eye candy to some in our fan base (@Adam Michaels will argue that he's no Juulsen!
Listening to Hughes, the org seems perfectly fine w Slaf’s development this season, and having done so @ NHL level vs Barron (for example) @ AHL
They shouldn’t be fine with it. They handled it poorly. If having a smile on your face and not beating yourself into a pulp after you make a mistake was the only prerequisite for playing in the NHL, there’d be a lot less guys riding buses in the minors. I’m not going to light them up for this yet as this is still a very salvageable situation obviously. Kids only 18.
That's an interesting thought. There is a market for him but you're suggesting the return may be disappointing? Well, if we are to believe the pundits who are claiming that there are multiple suitors, then wouldn't a smart negotiator like Hughes drive up the price by pitting them one against the other? I do believe there is a juicy return to be had unless the rumors we've been fed are just bunk.
I guess but I don't think it has much relevance. I don't think everything the past management did was horrible either, but I just don't see much comparison between the two. When there are only two choices (NHL or one of CHL/AHL/Europe) for most prospects I don't think it tells us anything that two different managers decided to develop certain players in the NHL.
MB aged about 40 years during his 10 years as the Habs GM.
It doesn't have to be a trade deadline deal, though. When longer term contracts are involved, it is usually easier to make a move during the summer.
I don't remember Curtis' situation but for sure the amount of access a reporter gets is going to be conditional to them playing it soft. So asking hard questions is basically a no win situation for reporters especially because asking a hard question(s) doesn't even get you an answer to those questions.
