Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
Or trading a player like that for futures is how you end up the Buffalo Sabres. It isn't like Kuz will be 37 when the Flames turn the corner, the goal is to be competitive by the time the arena opens. Kuzmenko will 32, he doesn't rely on his skating but his shot and his smarts which will be the same then as it is now. As long as you don't hand him a NMC you always have options to move him if it isn't working out. What you don't want is to build a team that is ready to compete except they are missing a Kuzmenko on the wing.
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I don't think that's how you end up like the Buffalo Sabres to be honest - the Buffalo Sabres just made some bad bets / didn't invest enough in their goaltending, and didn't have any veteran d-men to help their young guys. Last time I checked the Buffalo Sabres gave Jeff Skinner a huge contract because he played well with Jack Eichel...how did that work?
Signing a guy like Kuzmenko to a contract when he's 29 is always a risky proposition and unless it's less than 3 years and $6M you're going to regret it.
If you give him 5+ years, and $6M+ you probably don't have to worry about a NMC because the contract itself will be a NMC for a guy like him.
The team has organization depth at wing, on the roster, and in the propsects. And will likely add to that with all these picks they have. No team is lacking a Kuzmenko as the difference to being a contender or not. A team that is a contender just moved Kuzmenko because he's not that guy.
He's a guy that is very skilled but IMO isn't a play driver or impact player, the goal for him should be to pump up his value and trade him. Not give him a retirement contract.