Quote:
Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce
I see Backlund and Frolik as 'core' players. If not them, someone like them. Equivalent of Center/Winger combo x three.
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I don't.
In general I don't even like the "core" discussion because it's so ridiculously subjective. The core is Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett and Tkachuk (unproven so far) Giordano, Brodie and Hamilton. That's it. I should throw Tkachuk out of there because he hasn't even made the team.
As much as I love the other guys as players, they are interchangeable. Backlund is eventually going to cost too much money. Do you trade Bennett to keep Backlund? Of course not. You hope Jankowski is ready or you replace him with something else.
The big thing with Brouwer's contract is term. What does it line up with? Off the top of my head, Frolik and Brodie. Brodie will be due a bigger payday, so you need that flexibility. Bennett's ELC is also up soon, but it lines up with the expiry of Wideman, Engelland, Bouma, Stajan. Bennett will fit.
In a vacuum Brouwer is probably paid too much. But the term and the money imo fits with the team's plans moving forward.