And I don’t want to seem like I’m picking only on Nylander.
I love the JT signing but there is no way he is going to exceed 11 million dollars.
The same will hold true for Matthews and Marner.
I’m going to have higher expectations for both these players.
Moving forward, what bar has Marner set to achieve?
This was/is my reservation with committing half the Cap to 4 forwards. At this level, it is virtually impossible to exceed.
And what happens if Marner struggles heavy next year? Or 2 of the 4 struggle? The contracts require us to at least break even on the player.
Most likely Boston constantly has Marchand/Pastrnak exceeding.
And that’s just regular season. We’ve yet to see 3rd and 4th gear from players that will be taking the load. And taking up depth. Less and less space for a Kappy/Gardiner/Kadri on next contracts.
Totally agree. Here is the biggest issue I have with Nylander debates on play and contract and I would say the same thing no matter who the player (Matthews, Marner etc).
Re-Play.
He isn't producing-Reasons-well his stats say he will and that he has been playing well. we should have expected this from missing camp and start of season. He will produce any day now (since about game 10).
Responses to above-
Not all his stats say he is playing well - Ignored.
Other players have come off longer layoffs and even injuries and produced - Ignored, not the same thing.
He didn't look ready when he came back - Not true.
He's been held pointless 19 of 23 games-Doesn't matter, stats say he is playing well and who cares as long as he plays well in the playoffs.
He isn't engaging and doesn't look like he is competing hard-Not true and shouldn't expect him to take a hit or throw one to win a battle because he isn't that type of player.
Don't see lesser talented guys like Hyman, Brown, Goat etc get this kind of support from the same posters and they aren't paid to, or have the same talent to produce.
Re-Contract.
Before he signed and once signed before 1st game-He is worth as much as Pasta and more than Larkin etc. His back to back 61 pt seasons at his age are rare. You don't just pay for what he has done, you pay for future as well and his contract will be a bargain for the last 3-4 years because his production will increase.
He comes back and doesn't produce.
Reasons why contract still good-Well you shouldn't expect more from him. He was signed for what he is and what he has done, so if he produces close to that, that is what we should expect. He is paid fairly. This season doesn't matter. Pasta etc has just over-produced so that is not a fair comparison.
Sooooo - He doesn't have to produce this year as long as he does in the playoffs (I am sure there will be a new supportive narrative if he doesn't). We shouldn't expect improvement even though it was argued his contract is also based on future production. It doesn't matter if the comparable all improve their game, they are just over-achieving which isn't Willy's fault (Quite the change from how Willy out-performed them at a younger age so deserved as much or more). We also shouldn't expect him to compete harder in other ways when he isn't producing (He just isn't that kind of player).
If we are not paying for production now or better production in the future or a more complete game when not producing...what are we paying $7M for?