Quote:
Originally Posted by 868904
Every single time Burke or Treliving are asked about the teams success, they always praise these two acquisitions. I don't think they aren't going anywhere. If they lose their job, they will be the 13th forward and the 7th defenseman, and it is OKAY to put them in those positions because you don't have to worry about ruining their development.
The coaches and the management, like having these two on the team, because it gives the other players confidence to play their game. The team is not desperate at all to lose their cap hits.
I think that some of you just need to deal with the fact that these two are important members of this team and are viewed as such by the players, the coaches, and the management, and many fans also see their value. They aren't going anywhere unless they are supplanted by a younger or tougher player who can play that role.
Under Burke and Treliving, there will always be a face puncher, a goon, an enforcer, a tough guy. You can count on it. If you get rid of Bollig, there will be another (maybe Hunter Smith or Austin Carrol). If you get rid of Engelland, there will be another (maybe Keegan Kanzig).
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I don't really disagree with what you are saying in terms of importance to the team, because I'm still in the camp that these guys matter over the course of a season. However, do we really need to spend over $4 million on Engelland and Bollig when we're already up against the cap? Same thing goes for guys like Stajan. Like them or not...believe they're important or not...you can't afford to pay 4th line players and 6th/7th defensemen over $3 million a season and expect to pay your talented players what the market dictates. I respect and appreciate all 3 of the guys I mentioned, but I don't see them with the team much longer simply because of cap complications.
Also, finding a way to rid ourselves of Raymond's contract would allow us to keep these guys a little longer, so that has to be a priority for Treliving unless Mason manages to get to a middle 6 winger level again. Personally, I don't see it.