Quote:
Originally Posted by mustache ride
But then you still gotta pay this kid 5 million plus! Do you know who had similar numbers to this guy? Matt freakin Stajan! But Stajan actually had an extra year of 50 plus points. If people cant stand his contract at 3.5, what happens when O'reilly starts coming down to earth at 5 plus?
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Firstly, I don't think anyone knows whether the kid really wants $5 million per year. It could be the first offer they sent to the Avs thinking that there'd be some negotiations, but instead the Avs have chosen not to budge. It is possible that ROR would settle at $4 million which is not unreasonable for someone who you have pegged as your 1st or 2nd line centreman.
Secondly, there's enough information out there from knowledgable hockey people (in particular GMs and scouts) to suggest that ROR is in fact better than Matt Stajan and that the guy is a legitimate 1st or 2nd line centre in the league.
Thirdly, the guy projects as a Ryan Kesler / Craig Conroy type player. A guy who will be in contention for a Selke Trophy and also be able to play with top skilled players in your top 6. I think if you can get a guy like that with a top 5 pick, you'd be doing pretty well. Ryan Kesler doesn't put up the points that Henrik Sedin does, nor does he make as much money as Henrik Sedin, but Kesler is the better and more valuable player. I don't care that Henrik won an Art Ross trophy or a Hart trophy, Ryan Kesler and players of that ilk are much more important to winning teams than pure scorers. ROR is that type of player and that is why many teams are interested in acquiring him.
Fourthly, I don't want to bash Stajan, cause I think he's a good 3rd line centreman who is simply overpaid by about $1 million. ROR has a lot more to his game than Stajan. Like I said, ROR is closer to Kesler and Conroy (at his peak) than he is to Stajan. No one ever thought Matt Stajan was a top two line centreman, other than Darryl Sutter. Even Leaf fans who overate their players never thought that Matt Stajan was a top two line centre.