Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay Random
It sounds like a good explanation, but it explains too much. If that were the reason, it would be equally rare for a star player with an expiring contract to be traded — but it isn't.
|
with the expiring contract the decision is not to keep the guy like Iginla at 6-7M /year for the rest of the year and likely not make the playoffs OR trade him and get some value. He also will not be coming back no matter what the team offers... wants a top 6 role on a playoff team rather being #1 on a rebuild.
If Iginla had 2 years left on his contract (through 2014-15) 1) Pittsburgh would not want him for futures .... they would have to unload some contract $ from 2013-2015 that they did not have as witnessed by the fact that they did not sign him.
2) Boston may have offered the prospect package figuring out that they would have to make the moves they ended up doing to get Iginla at 6M, BUT they would not have wanted his extra year on the contract as shown by the fact that he is on a 1 year deal with them now.
The expiring contract provided the team with certainty of what they want going forward.
It usually is a huge mistake to acquire a Cammalleri who has 3 years left on his 6 M contract. It would have been better to have Cammalleri's on a short term deal.
I don't think that any team is offering the Flames a 1st round pick for Cammalleri this off season..... they might once they figure out that they will make the playoffs and the pick will be 20+ and Cammalleri might be the key for an extra round or 2 in the playoffs.
If Iginla had been signed by the Flames through 2015 he would be the Flames veteran leader to help the young guys learn to play in the NHL not either his or the Flames best choice. That role has fallen to Cammalleri.
Iginla was getting paid 7M and was worth 6... Cammalleri is getting paid 6M and is worth something closer to 3-4.