It is pretty simple. The compensation for getting Bouchard is such that he would be a natural candidate for an offer sheet. He is almost certainly a better player than a 2nd round pick would be. Each and every offseason there are RFA’s entering the prime of their career who logically should be the target for offer sheets. Yet every year, due to an understanding between clubs, the offer sheets never come.
I think the history of teams that use the RFA signing option getting attacked by other teams in retaliation is part of the reason, and not what I'd consider collusion. (less so with Kevin Lowe on the sidelines)
Sometime you just don't want to start a war, and put a target on your back.
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I think the history of teams that use the RFA signing option getting attacked by other teams in retaliation is part of the reason, and not what I'd consider collusion. (less so with Kevin Lowe on the sidelines)
Sometime you just don't want to start a war, and put a target on your back.
We saw that play out with the Habs and Hurricanes. If a GM covets a RFA he has to consider the fact that not only will he have to send out some high draft picks to get the player, but also the fact that the other team will likely be waiting to pounce on one of your top RFA's as retaliation so you have to weigh the pros and cons and it it's going to be worth it and I assume most teams simply don't think it's worth it in the end.
Or, maybe teams don't have $4m of cap space lying around.
Or maybe Bouchard simply wasn't interested in signing one (with any of the teams that actually do have room)
Or maybe teams don't like Bouchard that much. Where would he rank on the Flames? Currently behind Hanifin, Weegar and Andersson and he can't do what Tanev does either.
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Or maybe teams don't like Bouchard that much. Where would he rank on the Flames? Currently behind Hanifin, Weegar and Andersson and he can't do what Tanev does either.
Sure, but would you not take him at $4M, with the cost being a 2nd round pick? value-wise, it's a pretty decent pickup.
It is sad that a team did not offer him 4.25 million on a one year deal. It would cost a team a 2nd round pick to do that. But the collusion amongst NHL teams makes the RFA process almost meaningless.
I’m sure the Oilers would have matched and dumped Foegle or something. It would have to be expensive enough like Kotkaniemi’s contract for the Oilers not to match.
Or maybe teams don't like Bouchard that much. Where would he rank on the Flames? Currently behind Hanifin, Weegar and Andersson and he can't do what Tanev does either.
Tanev can’t do what he does either. He is what he is, a PP specialist who will probably get 60-70 points on the Oilers and would probably get at least 50 anywhere else. I would think the value of a 23 year old PP specialist would be at least a 2nd round pick. The Flames gave up a 3rd round pick for 17 games from the great Eric Gustafson.
After the Barrie trade he had 19 points in 21 regular season games. He followed that up with 17 points in 12 playoff games.
Really hard to determine how good he really is though. He's got a hard shot but he's not the greatest skater and any offensive production is inflated because of their powerplay that turned RNH into a 100 point player.
Bouchard didn't get any real 1st unit PP time until Barrie was traded at the deadline.
Bouchard is 14th in the NHL in points/60 at 5v5 over the last 2 seasons. (Minimum 1000 minutes).
1 Erik Karlsson
2 Cale Makar
3 Roman Josi
4 Devon Toews
5 Justin Faulk
6 Adam Fox
7 Shea Theodore
8 Mike Matheson
9 Brandon Montour
10 Vince Dunn
11 Brady Skjei
12 Victor Hedman
13 Dougie Hamilton
In total points he's 18th.
Offence is there I think.
Remains to be seen if he can clean up the defensive side somewhat. He's going into his third season so he still has time, but some guys just never really round out their game so it's hard to say.
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