With the praise that Peters was giving Gio and Hamilton, I don't think Hamilton is going anywhere.
I think the only reason it has been speculated is because people have talked about a core player who isn’t committed enough to winning being moved. People looked around at names and IMO a couple of the potential choices seemed to be Brodie and Hamilton. Both players play a bit soft in the defensive zone. Brodie has had issues with bad decisions and his speed not making up for it. Hamilton has been guilty of some lazy and lackadaisical play. Hamilton has the physical size to be a beast to play against in his own zone but he doesn’t seem to want to make opponents pay a big price to go against him.
Is Hamilton a problem? I’m not convinced that he is. I think we can win with him being more of an offensive defensemen than an all around elite dman. But if management decides that he’s not a guy who’s committed to being the best he can be in his own zone, not committed to being hard to play against in his own zone then MAYBE they cash in on his absolutely massive trade value to enact a slight culture shift.
Personally I think it’s more likely you trade a Brodie, or Stone or Fox. But if they have some doubts about Hamilton’s compete in his own zone AND some team offers you the sun and the moon for him then you have to think about it. I don’t think a Hamilton trade is likely but if someone offers you three times as much for Hamilton than they do for Brodie and you think Brodie can rebound on the right side then it makes some sense.
But yeah overall I don’t necessarily think Hamilton will be moved. I think the only scenario he’s moved is if management has some serious doubts about his compete level in his own zone. We really don’t know how they view him.
Should be interesting to see how it shakes down. Seems like the best way to acquire another top 6 player would be to deal from our strength, from our defensive depth. Trade one of Brodie, Stone, Hamilton or Fox. There’s a lot of factors that would go into that decision, won’t be an easy one. But the market value of those players will obviously be s big factor.
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Not at $12M per season. Not when the guy isn't a $12M player. Not when his salary establishes the benchmark all others will be measured against. What happens to the salary structure when Tavares doesn't live up to expectations and is outscored by lesser paid players on the club? What is the ripple effect?
He's not. He's a good player, but he isn't a game changer. He isn't a guy that grabs a game by the balls and takes control of it. He doesn't go out and win games for you. He scores a bunch of points, doesn't win you games. He doesn't make those individual efforts that leave you shaking your head. His 3 game winners were not all that impressive, even on his own team. Barzal (4) and Eberle (7) recorded more. Even when you take the full lines into consideration, Barzal's was more likely to have the impact when the game was on the line (14 GWG to 8).
If you're a game changer it shows in that you control the game at both ends of the ice. Tavares' -12 doesn't exactly show he's controlling the play both ends of the ice. Barzal, Eberle (!), and Beauvillier were all + players on the Islanders. Tavares' -12 was one of the worst on the team. I get that he is put out in situations when the game is on the line, but it is clear he is not achieving results compared to his peers. He isn't even the game breaker on his team. For comparison, McDavid was a whopping +20 on a team that was -29. We love to crap all over McJesus, but the guy is the epitome of a gamebreaker and has the ability to control the game every time he steps on the ice. Tavares does not have the ability.
You draw your line in the sand and wait for someone else to make the mistake. If Tavaraes wants to come to Calgary, there is number they should not go over to bring him here. Who really cares if the Rangers sign him for $12M? If they want to handcuff themselves with a salary like that, for a player who can't perform to those lofty expectations, then so be it. That doesn't mean he is worth that, or is worth that to the Flames. Smart teams keep a budget and don't get crazy trying to spend over it. Treliving has shown to be pretty smart in this regard, right up to the Backlund deal. I don't think he would go and toss around McDavid money for a player that isn't McDavid.
By going against the grain you mean exercising some logic and being a a pragmatist. No one with a brain in their head is on-board with paying Tavares $12M a season. Sure, it would be wonderful to have him in a Flames uniform, but is he the difference between this team going someplace and not? Not based on his track record in New York, and not based on the needs of this hockey team. Treliving would be much smarter to spend that money on two players, and bring in a scoring winger and improve our speed on the bottom lines. Tavares does not answer any of the problems affecting this hockey club.
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Tavares not a game changer? Tune into to some more Isles games methinks.
I might suggest you do the same thing. This great game changer rarely does just that. Great scorer, and racks up the points, but not a guy that changes the ebb and flow of a game. I've never seen the quality from Tavares, at least not to the level of guys that can truly take over a game like the greats of the game. I equate Tavares to Hall or Seguin, neither of which I would consider a game breaker. All are good scorers and great pieces, but I would not break the bank for any of them. They are a piece to the puzzle, not a solution unto themselves. I'd only pay that money to the likes of Crosby, McDavid, or Ovechkin. Guys that can step on the ice and change the entirety of the outcome by themselves. But yeah, I'm off the deep end in not believing that a player has that capacity and should not be paid like he does.
I might suggest you do the same thing. This great game changer rarely does just that. Great scorer, and racks up the points, but not a guy that changes the ebb and flow of a game. I've never seen the quality from Tavares, at least not to the level of guys that can truly take over a game like the greats of the game. I equate Tavares to Hall or Seguin, neither of which I would consider a game breaker. All are good scorers and great pieces, but I would not break the bank for any of them. They are a piece to the puzzle, not a solution unto themselves. I'd only pay that money to the likes of Crosby, McDavid, or Ovechkin. Guys that can step on the ice and change the entirety of the outcome by themselves. But yeah, I'm off the deep end in not believing that a player has that capacity and should not be paid like he does.
Hall??? You mean the guy who single-handedly dragged his team into the playoffs and is potentially the league MVP? You're right, not a gamebreaker at all...
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Are you saying Tavares is better than McDavid? I know we all hate the Grease but come on man...
In my opinion this is how I rank these two:
- Tavares is closer to Crosby than McDavid
- McDavid is closer to Ovechkin than Tavares
He’s an incredible talent who will constantly rack up points. But I’d take Tavares for long term success. Especially when we see the contract difference this summer.
In my opinion this is how I rank these two:
- Tavares is closer to Crosby than McDavid
- McDavid is closer to Ovechkin than Tavares
He’s an incredible talent who will constantly rack up points. But I’d take Tavares for long term success. Especially when we see the contract difference this summer.
I am sorry but that is crazy, in no universe is Tavares closer to Crosby than McDavid. Crosby and McDavid are generational talents, Tavares is not. I like Tavares, he is one of the best centres in the game and I would love him on my team but he is not on the same level as Crosby and McDavid.
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Hall??? You mean the guy who single-handedly dragged his team into the playoffs and is potentially the league MVP? You're right, not a gamebreaker at all...
One year. If he does it again and I might change my mind. Hall has more history being a point whore and passenger than being a gamebreaker. Consistency matters, which is a problem I see with Tavares. Again, great player, just not at the level being discussed. I would not screw over my salary structure to bring in anything short of a player who is perennially in the discussion for the best player in the game. I don't see Tavares in that discussion.
Yeah i think it will take 12 mil to get Tavares here between the competition for his service, the media, and the higher tax impact of playing in Canada.
Tavares would be worth 12 million and it's been discussed on here before that it would certainly be feasible, even with factoring in a big Tkachuk raise. Go hard Brad!
Tavares makes everyone around him better, he's probably make Brouwer worth his contract, he'd be able to make Bennett look like the player everyone thought he'd be. Tavares isn't only good, he makes the team so much better. If he says he wants to sign in Calgary, do the ask how much just say yes.
12 million for 7 years, in a heartbeat.
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That's wise of you. I have never heard anything to suggest that Tavares has any interest in playing in Western Canada, and plenty to suggest the opposite.
The man is going to write his own ticket. He can pretty much pick any team he wants to play for and get an eight-figure annual salary. Any plan for the Calgary Flames that relies on him to choose this team is a wasted exercise.
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That's wise of you. I have never heard anything to suggest that Tavares has any interest in playing in Western Canada, and plenty to suggest the opposite.
The man is going to write his own ticket. He can pretty much pick any team he wants to play for and get an eight-figure annual salary. Any plan for the Calgary Flames that relies on him to choose this team is a wasted exercise.
Which is why we will have to outbid and offer him 12 per. I could see Detroit and montreal matching that offer. I don't know if anyone else would.