Quote:
Originally Posted by ComixZone
Leon also isn't going to get a bridge deal - he's going to get a Johnny/Sean contract.
There are teams out there who took these gambles, and look like geniuses. If the team believes in Sam Bennett, then they should absolutely overpay in the short term to gain length on the cheap.
Those throwing around sub-2M contracts over 2 years, you're off by a million dollars. Go look around the league at comparable contracts. Also, from a cap-management standpoint, doing a 2 year bridge could lead to some cap-struggles in 2 years time when Tkachuk and Bennett will need extensions and we're still paying Brouwer and Frolik a combined 8.8M. At the minimum, you get 3 years to ensure the cap-crunch doesn't take place.
Also, comparing Draisaitl to Bennett doesn't make much sense at this stage. Draisaitl is a winger, and happens to play with the best centre in the league. Bennett is a centre, who got to play with Troy Brouwer. If you want to go down the path of undervaluing our players, go nuts - but try not to gush over a player who was gifted the best wing position in the league.
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The winger part is important. Obviously Leon had an unreal year but he hasn't taken his lumps at center yet. His numbers go off a cliff when he's not with McDavid. Be interesting to see how much of a leash he has when he's making 7 million and has some growing pains. I assume they'll put him at center next year.