Quote:
Originally Posted by Parallex
... no they're not. If they were just as important they'd be paid just as much.
Quality bottom six forwards are more about being depth scoring and positive up-ice movement then just banging bodies. As guys get older they get paid more and you can't go dole out money to back end guys because then you won't have money for the top end guys. If you want quality veterans on the back half of the forward ranks the only way you're getting them smartly is as reclamation projects on a 1 year deal.
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Right. playing solid checking line roles is just not important in today's fast-paced NHL.
You can dole out money proportionate to their skill level and what they bring. I wouldn't advocate paying big bucks in compared to the top-two lines, but at the price point of being a checking line guy, they are just as important.
If they weren't as important, you may as well just role two lines and have forwards play 30 minutes per game. They can't, it's unsustainable.
Using veterans as "reclamation projects" on one-year deals has hardly EVER worked out for any NHL team, let alone the Flames.