I know the difference between welfare and pro sports thank you, he's signed for less in the past, it can happen again...it will happen again, doubt he'll command 6.3 for 3 years, when the facts come out, we'll see who has bragging rights on the term and $$$
Hey, I'd be the happiest guy here if we can get markov for 2-3 more years at 5.75 mil. If he keeps playing like he is I think it will cost 500-750k more/year.
I find Beaulieu way overrated around here. People keep talking about his upside while there are many d-men of his age around the league and he has problem being adequate defensively in the AHL against players who'll never be more than third or fourth line players in the NHL. He's closer to be the next Ron Hainsey than the next top 2 d-man. I would take Kulikov way before him. If his upside was so high, he would at least be the clear cut #1 d-man in Hamilton, which isn't the case.
I think he's definitely adequate defensively for AHL , but his defensive game is still a couple years from playing top 4 at the NHL level. Unlike Toronto with Reilly or Gardiner, the Habs are letting him develop in the AHL with less pressure.
His upside is high because of his size(6'2") skating(well above average) and hockey sense(above average). Those are things that you can't teach and are very valuable. You can teach 1 on 1 coverage and to take less risks behind your blueline.
I don't really care if he is #1, 2 or 3 in Hamilton, at one point we had 4 guys there that were all good(or better) NHL prospects.
Not sure where you get the Hainsey comparable, Beaulieu is already better offensively than Hainsey at his best. Hainsey right now is more of a stay at home who plays safe and a low risk style.
Bottom line, he is a guy I'd want a big time player back to move. Not worth the upside lost.
Oh I agree with you, and I never said that Beaulieu doesn't have some sort of upside. But having Hainsey's type of upside is certainly less appealing than having Kulikov's type of upside. Hainsey was a #5-#6 d-man on very poor teams all is career, someone you use on the PP when you have no other option.
I just wanted to put Beaulieu's upside in perspective for posters who consider crazy trading him for Kulikov. And I do agree Beaulieu has the talent to make me look like a fool in 2-3 years. It's just that he didn't show anything like it for now, while Kulikov has already played well enough in the NHL to have a 3M contract, while still being young.
Beaulieu has as much if not more upside than Kulikov, he is just more raw at the same age. Kulikov's game at 18 was more well rounded.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.
What do you guys think about making room for Kulikov by not resigning Diaz, and resiging Markov for another 3-4 years, mentoring Kulikov into becoming a solid first pairing guy ?
Habs would have a very solid top6 :
Subban - Markov
Kulikov - Emelin
Gorges - Tinordi or vet UFA
Drewiske
Diaz will most likely ask 2-3 M next year since he's playing fairly well and is UFA (we'll most likely lose him on the market).
If the Habs lose Diaz on the market MB has dropped the ball.