He's a faster skating, harder hitting, higher paid Canadian version of Anton Babchuk. Hard shot, horrible defensive awareness, and has only been ever good playing with two partners in his career - Vandameer and Hamrlik. He can give you points on the powerplay, assuming he can start hitting the net with his shots the way he did during his rookie season.
Someone somewhere posted that according to 'advanced' statistics, Toronto was better with him on the ice than not. I wonder how true that is?
I'd take him back for about 4M a year or less. Anything more than that becomes an anchor, especially considering it's for 7 years. I think he'd benefit teams that use him as a second pairing defenseman and a powerplay quarterback rather than a first pairing guy. Honestly I'd more look forward to seeing Elisha Cuthbert back at the 'Dome than seeing Neon Dion play for the Flames again.
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