[Signing] Panthers sign Nick Bjugstad to 6 year extension ($4.1mil AAV) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sureLoss · 12-30-2014, 10:47 PM

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/flapa...er-season.html

According to George Richards, the deal was finalized in the 1st intermission of the Panther's game against Montreal.

Hockey · 12-30-2014, 10:53 PM

Good signing. Should be a 35-40 goal guy

ComixZone · 12-30-2014, 10:55 PM

as prices escalate for centres in the next few years (Toews being the bench mark for "elite"), deals like these will begin to look like bargains when you see 2nd line centres hitting free agent deals around 6M.

Good signing for the Panthers. Bjugstad has the size and talent to be a very solid player for them for a long time.

DOOM · 12-30-2014, 11:08 PM

Great deal for the Panthers cap wise. How many UFA years does this contract take up?

sharkov · 12-30-2014, 11:17 PM

great signing. Bjugstad is the ideal type of player the flames could use as he adds size and skill in the middle

Husky · 12-30-2014, 11:45 PM

Contract based on future potential. Still blows me away how someone with 121 games of NHL experience is already being signed to these dollars. Professional sports is a crazy world.

DoubleK · 12-30-2014, 11:46 PM

Great signing.

sureLoss · 12-30-2014, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOOM

Great deal for the Panthers cap wise. How many UFA years does this contract take up?

2 years I believe

TurdFerguson · 12-31-2014, 12:01 AM

A 22 year old kid with a guaranteed 24m sitting in front of him, living in Florida, where no one gives a damn about hockey. What could go wrong?

Taking my synic hat off...good value for his projection. Hope he continues to develop and doesn't get distracted.

Street Pharmacist · 12-31-2014, 02:21 AM

Is it just me, or has there been a sort of awakening about the importance of the centre position. It's always been considered important by hockey folk, but it seems like mainstream has caught up

Caged Great · 12-31-2014, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Is it just me, or has there been a sort of awakening about the importance of the centre position. It's always been considered important by hockey folk, but it seems like mainstream has caught up

Well, at least teams are seeing how successful a team like Calgary was in the past decade with no great centers. Conroy and Langkow were good, but you need better than good if you want to win.

Bjugstad is one of the few Panthers that I wish was a Flame. 6-6 scoring center. Yes please.

GreenLantern · 12-31-2014, 06:36 AM

This is a great deal for both sides and a great example for Treliving to point at when he is re signing Backlund.

Cali Panthers Fan · 12-31-2014, 07:05 AM

This makes me very, very happy. Kid is going to be such a stud.

It also makes me happy because I recently bought his jersey.

devo22 · 12-31-2014, 07:10 AM

that's a good deal for the Panthers. If Bjugstad continues to develop, this will be a bargain in a couple of years.

Cali Panthers Fan · 12-31-2014, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devo22

that's a good deal for the Panthers. If Bjugstad continues to develop, this will be a bargain in a couple of years.

When you consider how few offensive weapons he has to work with and the numbers he's produced over the last 2 years, it's almost a bargain now.

PeteMoss · 12-31-2014, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

as prices escalate for centres in the next few years (Toews being the bench mark for "elite"), deals like these will begin to look like bargains when you see 2nd line centres hitting free agent deals around 6M.

Good signing for the Panthers. Bjugstad has the size and talent to be a very solid player for them for a long time.

Unless you're the Oilers you don't really need to sign an RFA for a ton of money (elite guys who you want to lock up being an exception). These guys just don't have any leverage until they hit UFA age.

bubbsy · 12-31-2014, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Is it just me, or has there been a sort of awakening about the importance of the centre position. It's always been considered important by hockey folk, but it seems like mainstream has caught up

I suppose folks have watched what building a team "from the wings in" gets you (see Edmonton oilers) and building a team up the middle quickly becomes a point of utmost importance.

ForeverFlameFan · 12-31-2014, 09:47 AM

That's a steal, considering the cap is rising and Bjugstad is only going to get better.

Coach · 12-31-2014, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Is it just me, or has there been a sort of awakening about the importance of the centre position. It's always been considered important by hockey folk, but it seems like mainstream has caught up

I think a lot of it has to do with the evolution of the centerman position.

In the 70's and 80's, I don't think as much focus was put on defensive positioning and teams often had the centreman higher in the zone looking for outlets, rather than helping out the defense.

As things have progressed, the centre has dipped lower and lower to the point where he's now expected to basically be a 3rd dman in the d-zone. I could be wrong (due to age) but I think this is a relatively new development.

But I think more importantly, teams are recognizing that you just can't have 1-way centermen. They can't exist in the league. Any C has to play both ends equally well, and if you can get 4 that can all do that, it's an advantage over the other team. And with more statistical back up for things like FO%, zone starts, zone FO wins, etc... it's easier to see centreman who excel over those who don't.

Wingers are basically tools to get the puck from blueline-blueline and do their offensive things in the o-zone. It's not as important that they are two-way players (although it certainly doesn't hurt and not a coincidence that Cup Champs are generally chock full of players that play both ends of the ice).

EDIT:

Additionally I would say that versatility has won out over specialization. there's no more NHL96 scoring line 1,2 checking line, grinding line. You need 4 lines that can do everything because that's what the best teams have. If you're a specialized player (ala Ovechkin, Hall) you better be damn good at that one thing to cover up the deficiencies, because top teams will exploit them. Especially when it comes to playoff time.

Jay Random · 12-31-2014, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyC

As things have progressed, the centre has dipped lower and lower to the point where he's now expected to basically be a 3rd dman in the d-zone. I could be wrong (due to age) but I think this is a relatively new development.

It comes and goes. Pat Burns used his centres pretty much the way you describe when he was coaching the Leafs in the 90s. At the time, if I recall, it was viewed as kind of a throwback to Original Six hockey.

It’s certainly true that centres played a lot more run and gun in the late 70s and 80s. But that was probably more of a temporary phase, rather than the way things always used to be.