Yes but most fans don't look at nuances of why players get what they do. Ie cap percentage, rfa vs ufa, rising salary over time, etc.
I also thought it was high at first glance. It's just one of those deals that you have too look more closely at. Ultimately it appears that Drai bet on himself a bit by not re signing a year before his deal expired, maybe to see what McDavid would do (which does make our upcoming contract issues intersting). Someone like Barkov cared more about security and signed before his value jumped higher. There was risk there that he would maybe not find much offense in his game. Drai had already broken out
And I know that it isn't proven but I bet one day it will come out that Drai had an offer sheet. It was probably something he could throw in Chiarelli's face, like 9.5 aav. So imo it was a fair contract by what's proven but if what I assume is true is true, he literally did leave money on the table compared to what he could have got elsewhere
The Oilers bet on Draisaitl and they won. There would have been general consensus of his contract being a win much earlier if it were not for a high hit from Trouba very early on during the 2017-18 campaign that set his offensive production back.
Draisaitl surely could have passed the 80 point mark in year one of his contract if he played the full 82 games, at or close to 100% with a greater level of confidence and assuredness. Not out of the question that he could have come close to or even surpassed 90 points, knowing what we know now about the player.
Draisaitl proved all doubters wrong. Chiarelli negotiated a fantastic contract for the organization. That was a rare win for him. Signing two max term contracts for two superstars.
Nurse makes more than Draisaitl. That's a huge blunder in terms of cap structure by the current GM.
An offer sheet may have been presented to Draisaitl? I would have to see some proof to go there, about Draisaitl receiving an offer sheet. I don't believe that one.
Where did you stand in regards to the Draisaitl contract immediately after it was signed? Did you like it or did you loathe it, perhaps neutral?
In part because this place tends to think that a young guy getting an 8 year deal should be paid exactly what he is worth at the time of the signing. Over the course of the years since the cap most long term deals around here have been panned. That said at the time of the signing it would have been easy to argue that he was within $1M of his actual value even at that time. The chances that that contract played out well for the team were always very good.
If Nurse signed a more appropriate contract, making less than Draisaitl, he would still have his detractors but perhaps there wouldn't be the overwhelming consensus of an overpayment.
If Nurse signed for less than the AAV of Draisaitl, not only would this have kept the cap structure in line, but one might also defend the Nurse contract by stating what would be a fact, "Nurse makes less than Jones, Werenski, and Hamilton, and they all signed during the same period."
As far as appearances go, I believe the main boards or non-Oiler fans view the Nurse contract as one of the leagues heaviest boat anchors. That's the general perception, and it's also worked into the mythos of why the Edmonton Oilers are incapable of winning a Stanley Cup.
Having defenseman taking up large percentages of your cap while those defensemen are not particularly good in the defensive zone is a huge hindrance to the club and it also lends credence to this aforementioned belief, that the Oilers are not capable of winning a Stanley Cup as the team is currently assembled.
The Oilers can't afford to do 1 year and not be in even more cap hell next offseason with the Brown bonus overage clogging up the cap. This has to be a 2 year deal because he's going to put up big numbers this year so the projected 3.8-4m he'd be making in the 2nd year will pennies compared to what he'd be making on a new deal. This has to be a 2 year deal.
Can the Oilers plan to add another high price tag defenseman with defensive limitations to their long term budgetary assessment? Long-term as in a Nurse like scenario, taking two bridge deals then receiving what is generally ascertained as a substantial overpay?
We aren't going to move Nurse. Maybe it's time to move on from Bouchard.
I fully agree. This deal needs to be 2-3 years.
I have no problem with a 3 year contract for Bouchard as long as it comes in at a reasonable number. A reasonable number is 4.5M but I'm sure 3 years would come in around at a Holland rated 4.9M.
At that price point Bouchard makes fair market value, likely in year two of the contract. Year one is an overpay and year three is team friendly, this transpires while the club has a level of cap certainty for 3 years and can plan around that. Particularly when it come to the Draisaitl and McDavid extensions.
Bouchard can rack up power play points for 3 seasons and at the end of the deal the Oilers can retain or trade the player.