Confirmed with Link: Nick Paul signs 2 year deal (1.35M AAV)

[Xspyrit]

Nick Paul doesn't need to over compensate by having a letter on his jersey just like he doesn't need a super expensive sports car. Everyone already knows how big it is.

Exactly. People in the know understand that kind of confidence. Can't teach that

If you leave out all the superficial words, all you can hear is "I'm not going to tell you how big it is Bruce. You already know that."

 

[Burrowsaurus]

He's been decent but you guys are way too eager to call him a success. He needs to show more consistency to warrant that kind of praise. He wasn't as "affective" against the Jets as he was against the Leafs for example.

Do you still feel this way

 

[OD99]

Dude is looking legit and showing off his hands now that he is brimming with confidence.

Would like to see some set plays off the draw and even on PP to let him wire that wrister. What a laser!

 

[chipsens]

Paul is manhandling opponents this year, and playing great heads-up hockey. All he is missing rjght now is the Burt Reynolds porn stache...like the guy in Slapshot.

 

[chipsens]

When is Paul gonna be given the keys to the face-off dot? Big C

 

[Adele Dazeem]

Do you still feel this way

Yes. As should anyone really. He needs to play the way he is over a stretch of a season + to be called a success. He's on the right trajectory though.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Yes. As should anyone really. He needs to play the way he is over a stretch of a season + to be called a success. He's on the right trajectory though.

Well it’s been a season and a bit now. Plus I always thought he looked good with Boucher. Guy obviously disagreed

 

[Xspyrit]

Paul was just another "dime a dozen" young guy not getting the right opportunity. He still had room to grow to become more effective, but at some point, you don't have much more to learn in the AHL so it's in the NHL you are going to do that. I mean, for most players it takes a bit of time to get comfortable and 20 something games won't be enough.

When he first came in 2015-16, the team was competitive. Then Dorion became the GM with a new coach and Paul didn't get much of an opportunity until 2019-20... They decided to rebuild in 2017-18 but he didn't even get a call-up after the trade deadline. In 2018-19, he got 20 games but there was a lot of other young guys that needed opportunities.

He was waived in February 2019 but didn't get claimed so luckily the team kept him longer. It could have played differently if a team decided to give him a chance. Even if Paul is not Crosby, we got lucky there.

There's plenty of players in NHL history that were "given away too soon". Some notable examples :

Kris Draper (traded for one dollar)
Pavol Demitra (traded for Olsson who played 25 NHL Games with Ottawa)
Patrick Sharp (traded for Ellison and a 3rd)
Randy Carlyle (traded for Dave Burrows and a 6th)
Bernie Parent (claimed in Flyers expansion draft)
Roberto Luongo (infamous Bryan Murray trade)
Billy Smith (claimed in NYI expansion draft)
Gilles Meloche (given away as a compensation)
Kirk McLean (traded as a small piece in a trade)
Tomas Vokoun (claimed in NAS expansion draft)
Michael Grabner (claimed on waivers)
Rich Peverley (claimed on waivers)
Kyle Quincey (claimed on waivers)
Chris Kunitz (claimed on waivers by ATL but put back on waivers so Ducks got him back)
Ilya Bryzgalov (claimed on waivers)
Martin St.Louis (exposed in expansion draft, unclaimed then bought out by the Flames)
Paul Byron (claimed on waivers)
Ray Whitney (claimed on waivers)
Thomas Hickey (claimed on waivers)
Jason Pominville (cleared waivers)
Mike Hoffman (cleared waivers)
Tim Thomas (drafted by Nordiques, signed by Oilers, finally got a chance with bruins)
Daniel Briere (cleared waivers)
Stephane Robidas (claimed in NHL Waiver Draft)
Francis Bouillon (claimed in NHL Waiver Draft)
Ron Hainsey (claimed on waivers)

I could go on and on

 

[Ice-Tray]

That’s what happens when you give a young guy a chance, especially when the season is a throw away.

If the young kid sucks, there we go. We know we can safely move on.

If the young kid puts things together, VOILA! You get a guy like Paul who was otherwise out on waivers for any other team should they have wanted him.

What are you talking about?

Paul was never just thrown in, he had to earn ever second of ice time, culminating in a serious personal reset when he was on the verge of not making the NHL.

It was a massive personal growth due to not being good enough time and time again that has made him who he is today, not being given a ton of ice time in a throw away season as you put it.

For White to become like Paul he has to take a good look in the mirror and be a heck of a lot better as a hockey player, not expect hand out ice time so he can try once again to see if he can work through it.

White had an entire season of plum chances last year, now it’s gut check time. I agree that I’d like him to get the ‘Paul treatment’ and it looks like he is getting exactly that. The added bonus is tha he has Paul on the team to talk to about what it takes to break through. The only question left is whether he can be like Paul and rise up, or whether he will settle into what we have seen so far.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Paul was just another "dime a dozen" young guy not getting the right opportunity. Sure, he still had room to grow to become more effective, but at some point, it's in the NHL you are going to do that. I mean, for most players it takes a bit of time to get comfortable and 20 something games won't be enough.

When he first came in 2015-16, the team was competitive. Then Dorion became the GM with a new coach and Paul didn't get much of an opportunity until 2019-20... but granted there was a lot of other young guys to give opportunities in 2018-19. 2017-18 was the season they decided to rebuild but he didn't even get a call-up after the trade deadline

He was waived in February 2019 but didn't get claimed so luckily the team kept him longer. It could have played differently if a team decided to give him a chance. Even if Paul is not Crosby, we got lucky here.

There's plenty of players in NHL history that were "given away too soon". Some notable examples :

Kris Draper (traded for one dollar)
Pavol Demitra (traded for Olsson who played 25 NHL Games with Ottawa)
Patrick Sharp (traded for Ellison and a 3rd)
Randy Carlyle (traded for Dave Burrows and a 6th)
Bernie Parent (claimed in Flyers expansion draft)
Roberto Luongo (infamous Bryan Murray trade)
Billy Smith (claimed in NYI expansion draft)
Gilles Meloche (given away as a compensation)
Kirk McLean (traded as a small piece in a trade)
Tomas Vokoun (claimed in NAS expansion draft)
Michael Grabner (claimed on waivers)
Rich Peverley (claimed on waivers)
Kyle Quincey (claimed on waivers)
Chris Kunitz (claimed on waivers by ATL but put back on waivers so Ducks got him back)
Ilya Bryzgalov (claimed on waivers)
Martin St.Louis (exposed in expansion draft, unclaimed then bought out by the Flames)
Paul Byron (claimed on waivers)
Ray Whitney (claimed on waivers)
Thomas Hickey (claimed on waivers)
Jason Pominville (cleared waivers)
Mike Hoffman (cleared waivers)
Tim Thomas (drafted by Nordiques, signed by Oilers, finally got a chance with bruins)
Daniel Briere (cleared waivers)
Stephane Robidas (claimed in NHL Waiver Draft)
Francis Bouillon (claimed in NHL Waiver Draft)
Ron Hainsey (claimed on waivers)

I could go on and on

Again, what are you talking about?

Paul broke though because he made some serious changes to his game and to his outlook.

Not shining in the opportunities that he was getting is exactly what drove him to be better and to finally break through, and now he’s getting all the opportunities he deserves.

I don’t understand you guys at all thinking that a young player will just become better if you throw endless NHL ice time at them.

 

[Xspyrit]

Again, what are you talking about?

Paul broke though because he made some serious changes to his game and to his outlook.

Not shining in the opportunities that he was getting is exactly what drove him to be better and to finally break through, and now he’s getting all the opportunities he deserves.

I don’t understand you guys at all thinking that a young player will just become better if you throw endless NHL ice time at them.

He was still pretty young (20 y/o) when he got his first NHL taste in 2015-16. It was good to show him what he will need to do to become a full time NHLer. He continued to develop after that, no problem, it just wasn't as fast as you would have hoped.

He finally "broke out" at 23 y/o, proving to be a legit 1st line player in the AHL. But he didn't produce in the NHL right away in his 20 games sample size so they decided to waive him to send him back to Belleville. Thankfully he wasn't claimed and finally made the team last year, proving himself at 24 y/o. Now he is telling us that he has another level to reach.

His development was fine, just slower that you would want but at the same time he was a 4th round pick and any guy outside of the first 2 rounds making it is already defying the odds.

All that being said, if a team liked him (like Sharks did with Balcers, and maybe several other teams would have claimed him, as the Sharks were 3rd last this past season), they would have claimed him off waivers in 2019 and we'd be watching him play for another team right now and our team would be just a little more depressing to watch.

What I am talking about, and the POINT is that players that are not fully developed might not be "dime a dozen" because a team mishandled them. Like the multiple examples I have given.

I thought it was obvious.

 

[chipsens]

Paul was just another "dime a dozen" young guy not getting the right opportunity. Sure, he still had room to grow to become more effective, but at some point, it's in the NHL you are going to do that. I mean, for most players it takes a bit of time to get comfortable and 20 something games won't be enough.

When he first came in 2015-16, the team was competitive. Then Dorion became the GM with a new coach and Paul didn't get much of an opportunity until 2019-20... but granted there was a lot of other young guys to give opportunities in 2018-19. 2017-18 was the season they decided to rebuild but he didn't even get a call-up after the trade deadline

He was waived in February 2019 but didn't get claimed so luckily the team kept him longer. It could have played differently if a team decided to give him a chance. Even if Paul is not Crosby, we got lucky here.

There's plenty of players in NHL history that were "given away too soon". Some notable examples :

Kris Draper (traded for one dollar)
Pavol Demitra (traded for Olsson who played 25 NHL Games with Ottawa)
Patrick Sharp (traded for Ellison and a 3rd)
Randy Carlyle (traded for Dave Burrows and a 6th)
Bernie Parent (claimed in Flyers expansion draft)
Roberto Luongo (infamous Bryan Murray trade)
Billy Smith (claimed in NYI expansion draft)
Gilles Meloche (given away as a compensation)
Kirk McLean (traded as a small piece in a trade)
Tomas Vokoun (claimed in NAS expansion draft)
Michael Grabner (claimed on waivers)
Rich Peverley (claimed on waivers)
Kyle Quincey (claimed on waivers)
Chris Kunitz (claimed on waivers by ATL but put back on waivers so Ducks got him back)
Ilya Bryzgalov (claimed on waivers)
Martin St.Louis (exposed in expansion draft, unclaimed then bought out by the Flames)
Paul Byron (claimed on waivers)
Ray Whitney (claimed on waivers)
Thomas Hickey (claimed on waivers)
Jason Pominville (cleared waivers)
Mike Hoffman (cleared waivers)
Tim Thomas (drafted by Nordiques, signed by Oilers, finally got a chance with bruins)
Daniel Briere (cleared waivers)
Stephane Robidas (claimed in NHL Waiver Draft)
Francis Bouillon (claimed in NHL Waiver Draft)
Ron Hainsey (claimed on waivers)

I could go on and on

...also Zibby

 

[Ice-Tray]

He was still pretty young (20 y/o) when he got his first NHL taste in 2015-16. It was good to show him what he will need to do to become a full time NHLer. He continued to develop after that, no problem, it just wasn't as fast as you would have hoped.

He finally "broke out" at 23 y/o, proving to be a legit 1st line player in the AHL. But he didn't produce in the NHL right away in his 20 games sample size so they decided to waive him to send him back to Belleville. Thankfully he wasn't claimed and finally made the team last year, proving himself at 24 y/o. Now he is telling us that he has another level to reach.

His development was fine, just slower that you would want but at the same time he was a 4th round pick and any guy outside of the first 2 rounds making it is already defying the odds.

All that being said, if a team liked him (like Sharks did with Balcers, and maybe several other teams would have claimed him, as the Sharks were 3rd last this past season), they would have claimed him off waivers in 2019 and we'd be watching him play for another team right now and our team would be just a little more depressing to watch.

What I am talking about, and the POINT is that players that are not fully developed might not be "dime a dozen" because a team mishandled them. Like the multiple examples I have given.

I thought it was obvious.

Unfortunately it wasn’t as obvious as you hoped, nor does you extensive list of players necessarily indicate mismanagement.

Seems just as likely, if not more, that some players respond positively to adversity, like Paul seems to have done.

 

[aragorn]

I always liked Paul, always thought he needed more of an opportunity, but he also needed to change his game & make himself better. He did that, improved his skating as well & if he can regain his ability on faceoffs like he did in junior it would add to his repertoire that keeps him on the team longer. I'd also like to see him add more determination, grit & sandpaper to his game.

Hopefully, Paul can keep this up & if Ottawa can find another gem or two on their farm team from Formenton, L. Brown & maybe Sokolov or Jarventie the future would look so much brighter for this forward group.

 

[TheDebater]

It took 6 and a half years...but we might just win the Spezza deal! hehehe

 

[Sweatred]

What are you talking about?

Paul was never just thrown in, he had to earn ever second of ice time, culminating in a serious personal reset when he was on the verge of not making the NHL.

It was a massive personal growth due to not being good enough time and time again that has made him who he is today, not being given a ton of ice time in a throw away season as you put it.

For White to become like Paul he has to take a good look in the mirror and be a heck of a lot better as a hockey player, not expect hand out ice time so he can try once again to see if he can work through it.

White had an entire season of plum chances last year, now it’s gut check time. I agree that I’d like him to get the ‘Paul treatment’ and it looks like he is getting exactly that. The added bonus is tha he has Paul on the team to talk to about what it takes to break through. The only question left is whether he can be like Paul and rise up, or whether he will settle into what we have seen so far.

^Yes Sir^

 

[2CHAINZ]

You almost had me ? You never had me. You never even had your car.

 

[Xspyrit]

...also Zibby

I would put him in another list, players that took longer to break out, or that were traded without knowing their real value down the road, sort of like Filip Forsberg as well

My list was mostly players that were totally unproven or barely proven, and where teams gave up on them too soon and basically gave them away for free.

Zibanejad had 281+16 GP in Ottawa... and was not given away for free

Unfortunately it wasn’t as obvious as you hoped, nor does you extensive list of players necessarily indicate mismanagement.

Seems just as likely, if not more, that some players respond positively to adversity, like Paul seems to have done.

Sorry but yes, it was pretty obvious with that list. These are not opinions but FACTS.

So what would the argument be for these players if they haven't been mismanaged? Was it "bad luck"? It's just a few examples of when teams give up too early on a young player before giving him a real opportunity and/or more time to develop.

Kris Draper sold for 1$ at 21 y/o for Christ's sake... I mean, the guy played 1157 NHL Games plus 222 in the playoffs, won a Selke and was a core piece on 4 Stanley Cup teams...

How you would call Grabner being waived then goes on to score 34 goals in his rookie season RIGHT AWAY?

Or what about Martin St-Louis story?

There's a LOT more examples than that, these were just easy-to-find/obvious ones

 

[SensFactor]

Not sure about the rest of you but I think Nick Paul is one of the glue guys on our team. His work ethic and grit are infectious for the younger guys.

The sad thing with Nick is that he is a UFA after next season. I'm hoping we can bring him back on another short term deal. What would that deal look like? and would you make the deal with Nick this offseason instead of waiting for next year?

 

[Hale The Villain]

He wins so many battles and contributes in ways that don't hit the score sheet.

Better be re-signed.

 

[SensFactor]

He wins so many battles and contributes in ways that don't hit the score sheet.

Better be re-signed.

2 years x 2.5 per year extension?

 

[Hale The Villain]

2 years x 2.5 per year extension?

I'd go as high as 3M x 4-5YRs.

You win with players like him in your bottom 6.

He's got a good amount of skill and a hard shot too. If the offense eventually flourishes he could be a steal at that price.

 

[Dan Patrick]

I figure he'll start by asking for something like the CBrown contract 3x3.6 and will hopefully settle for something under 3 depending on the term.

 

[cudi]

I'd go 2 or 3 years at an AAV around 2/2.25 per.

Ideally he's on your 4th line which means you got a deep roster and probably one of the best 4th lines in the league. Classic guy who you can plug and play anywhere in a pinch though

Lacks passing ability to be a regular skill player.

 

[slamigo]

Nick Paul is such a good piece for a building team. He is very reliable. It's too bad he's being wasted on a line with Tierney right now. Tierney is a black hole.