flyfysher
Registered User
- Mar 21, 2012
- 6,555
- 5,191
There is just different expectations of players. Dong is a 3rd line sort of guy and a good one. You live with offensive cold spells on a 3rd line guy because you don't rely on them to produce offense. It is good and they need some, but anything above 30 points is gravy for a 3rd liner. If Dong just provides good effort, defense, and pushing possession... you are getting your money's worth from a 3rd liner. Burkie was brought into solve 2nd line scoring woes. It is a different level of expectations placed on a player and is a different role. Burkie needs to produce at a solid level and be relied upon to score to earn his spot. With his defensive ability, he's boom or bust as he isn't the type to do well in a bottom 6 role. So it was risky that his offense would be at a high enough level to justify. Over 50 games into the season Burkie is still streaky, but the lows haven't been as bad as years prior and the highs are very high. He's done all that could be asked for and some. Even if he regresses next year, Burkie's season has proven he was worth the price given up. The next contract is scary as the numbers will present a strong case, but the inconsistency and history in Washington present a lot of risk.
On Nuke's contract... the going rate for 3rd line wingers is stuck a bit in the mid to high 3s, some might creep into the 4s. IMO re-signing him for 3 or 4 seasons should net him somewhere between Compher and Dong.
Uh, people were penciling in Donskoi to be on the 2nd line as well. I'll respectfully disagree with you, cgf and Abusement Park. Point is, Burakovsky can play anywhere and has. If you have doubts about Burakovsky's ability then all three of you should be crowing about what an exceptional asset Sakic has found. His point total is right there with Ehlers at almost half the salary hit. Even if Burakovsky is re-signed, it'll be a hell of a lot less than other second-liners. Second-liners are not the model of consistency anyway (i.e. Duchene) so the inconsistency criticism is overblown. That is why they are second and not first liners (right now, our first-line ain't so hot). What were you expecting for $3.25M? Does Donskoi drive the puck like Burakovsky?