Quote:
Originally Posted by Itse
We were originally talking about the possible need to make room in the roster sometime in the future, which is a very different issue than bad contracts you need to get rid of. Hockey trades, not cap dumps.
As for your examples, those contracts are on a completely different level. Froliks $4.3M is 2nd liner money these days. Mid-level UFA's get traded every year, even now when trades are becoming more rare. If Frolik ends up being more of a 3rd liner, he'll only be overpaid by something like $1.5M. Even if you want to trade him, that's not going to be a huge issue for most teams.
Most UFA's also finish their contracts without anyone ever worrying about them.
Besides, 95% of the time even bad contracts get you something like a low pick in return. Guys like David Jones and Jay Bouwmeester are examples that guys that underperform will have takers in a trade, as long as they're not completely useless. Frolik is not the type of guy that's very likely to become completely useless. The returns might not be much, but since we gave up nothing to sign Frolik the returns would all be gravy anyway.
IMO there's clear risk factors as to what kind of players become terrible contracts. I think the most typical ones are one dimensional players that were paid to put up points (Semins and Cheechoos), or older guys that are given retirement contracts and lose their speed before the contracts run out (Chara). Or guys that are paid like superstars but fail to deliver. (Heatley, Phaneuf.)
That's not Frolik.
Frolik will only be 32 by the time the contract runs out, he's reported to be a consistent performer, versatile, can put up some points and can defend. If you feel signing a guy like that is too risky, you essentially can't ever sign anybody. He can end being overpaid, but at 4.3M I really can't see that contract becoming a huge headache.
...I hope I didn't just jinx it...
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Good post...
Maybe some UFA's run their length but almost all the buyouts were UFA contracts.
Ironic your use of David Jones as an example....
1) He was traded for Tanquay who quit as a Flame and had a similar over paid contract running for 3 more years.
2) He was the same age as Frolik is now when he signed his 4x4 deal. He had just had 2 solid seasons 45 and 38 pts ... His prime assets were his size and speed. He was able to play in the top 6. Both players were coming off 1 year show-me contracts... Jones making 2.5M and Frolik 3.3M.