[Signing] Flames sign Huberdeau to long term extension (8 yrs, $10.5 mil AAV)

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Has an NHL forward ever produced like this in the back half of his 30's? 81 points in 82 games as a 37 year old is unheard of and it's not like he's playing a one-dimensional game. Amazing player and I just wish he played in the Eastern Conference because he's been a thorn in the side of the Flames.

As I mentioned earlier, Oates had 82 pts in 81 games as a 38 year old, and followed it up with 78 in 80 games (good for 7th in league scoring) at age 39.

But Pavelski is a freak. From all accounts he’s an incredible athlete even by the standards of other pro athletes - teammates marvel at his ability to excel at any sport - baseball, golf, anything. He’s also ultra, ultra competitive.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1555553563018989571

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

While I don't love the money and term, having a star player who wants to be with the team is better than a star player who wants out. Hopefully that's a good thing for the team culture and success.

Yeah it had to be done but the term is not good. If they aren't rebuilding then this was the way to go.

[JohnnyB]

Pavelski is one of the opposition players I admire most. He has always been so competitive and an amazing leader on the ice.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

As I mentioned earlier, Oates had 82 pts in 81 games as a 38 year old, and followed it up with 78 in 80 games (good for 7th in league scoring) at age 39.

But Pavelski is a freak. From all accounts he’s an incredible athlete even by the standards of other pro athletes - teammates marvel at his ability to excel at any sport - baseball, golf, anything. He’s also ultra, ultra competitive.

Yeah Oats was really effective late in his career but to me Pavelski has been more impressive as he's still a productive goal scorer. Scoring goals is the hardest thing for a skater to do in NHL.

[Major Major]

I think this year and next are good years to sign players long term. Eventually there will be a sea change on elite player valuation. It's stayed pretty static the last 5 years, but with added revenue streams and the players' tab about to be paid back lining up with the expiration of Matthews, Draisaitl and McDavid, I don't think it's far fetched to see salaries of 17 million+ by the time Huberdeau's deal is done.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by flame4life

The guy hasn’t even played a game in a Flames jersey and some are already talking contract not aging well and how it is buyout proof. My goodness, why don’t we just enjoy the fact that we signed an elite player who wants to be here. I wish there were two threads - one for us who would like to celebrate a fantastic signing and optimism for the season and the other for those who just hate life and complain about everything. I love Calgary puck and the super intelligent posters that are on here but some of the group who just love to crap on everything… is there anything that makes you happy?

It's the salary cap. It sucks the fun out of big trades and signings by forcing fans to be accountants.

If there was no cap to consider, everyone is happy with deals like this. But with the cap everyone has to look at contract value and implications on other signings and all that boring stuff.

Obviously the cap is necessary to ensure teams like the Flames can compete, but it does complicate the business of just being a hockey fan.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I think this year and next are good years to sign players long term. Eventually there will be a sea change on elite player valuation. It's stayed pretty static the last 5 years, but with added revenue streams and the players' tab about to be paid back lining up with the expiration of Matthews, Draisaitl and McDavid, I don't think it's far fetched to see salaries of 17 million+ by the time Huberdeau's deal is done.

I would expect Draisaitl and Matthews could see $15 million a season on their next deals when they leave Canada for American teams. McDavid will surely get a record breaking deal when he's UFA. Going to be a lot of fun in three years when the Oilers get dismantled with no Stanley Cups to show for McDrai.

[La Flames Fan]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Was waiting for a poster to drop this line. Took long enough!

Surprised it was even available, like Brad probably was with that trade...

[dustygoon]

Keeping in mind that we are supposed to overpay because taxes and cold....

- Huberdeau comes in at 12.6% of CF's 2023/2024 cap estimate...IS THAT BAD?

- Which is just outside the top 15 of current players in terms of cap % at time of signing....NOT TOO BAD

- That's right between Seguin and Benn...THOSE DIDN'T AGE SO WELL

- I don't see any wingers signing at his age getting close to this much including Ovi.....CRIPES

- Assuming the cap grows ~5% (ie average of prior 14 seasons which is probably a low
estimate given inflation), then this will be 10% of cap towards end of the contract.....I CAN DEAL

This is rich, but not debilitating. Hopefully there is a halo effect of positivity and draws other players and reasonable prices.

[All In Good Time]

All of the sudden, I see all these statistics that imply that “he can’t play in his own end”. Please excuse my ignorance because I admit that I don’t understand how many of these stats are calculated.
But
Is the teams style of play/system taken into account in these calculations?
I mean
Bob Gainey’s defensive numbers may not have been so good had he played for the Kansas City Scouts

[ResAlien]

Cool

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

It's the salary cap. It sucks the fun out of big trades and signings by forcing fans to be accountants.

Not me. NHL fans seem to be much more obsessed with trades compared to fans of other sports. I don't mind a good trade but continuously pining for trades means you are never truly satisfied with the team you cheer for. I don't understand why fans can't be happy with the current roster and why fans want to get rid of good players like Hanafin, Kylington, etc. just to satisfy their itch for trades. I like a good trade as much as anyone but you can only make so many moves before you start disrupting the locker room chemistry like Darryl did when he traded Kobasew and Ference to the Bruins which pretty well killed anything good left over from the 2004 cup run.

[Scooter]

Originally Posted by dino7c

We?

Oh and he outscored everyone on your list last season

Point probably makes more money anyway when you consider taxes

Everyone on the list + Point showed up in the winning Stanley Cup playoff years. Huby a no show in this years playoffs. Contract will be justified when he does something in the post season!

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Everyone on the list + Point showed up in the winning Stanley Cup playoff years. Huby a no show in this years playoffs. Contract will be justified when he does something in the post season!

It’s justified as long as he is a top 10 scorer in the league

That’s how much those guys make

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Scooter

Everyone on the list + Point showed up in the winning Stanley Cup playoff years. Huby a no show in this years playoffs. Contract will be justified when he does something in the post season!

Who showed up on the Panthers in the playoffs? It's not like Barkov had a good playoffs either. They aren't much different than the Flames in that few players showed up in the playoffs but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are all playoff chokers. Very few teams have year over year success in the playoffs as most have to fail several times before they break through like the Avalanche did this season, Blues a few seasons back, Capitals before them, etc. It's all about getting into the playoffs annually which is half the battle and for that to happen you need guys that produce in the regular season.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

You pay for elite talent. Would 9.5 have been better? It's a tiny difference in the grand scheme of things. If it prevents you from signing an expensive depth player, great.

This is one of the best points I've seen.

I'd rather have a $10.5mm star winger and a $1mm Ruzicka/Lewis on the 4th line

vs

a $7mm Boeser/Keller type 1st line winger and a 4mm Folino/Vatrano/Donskoi streaky plugs

Maybe this dissuades some pricey 4th liners.

[flame4life]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

It's the salary cap. It sucks the fun out of big trades and signings by forcing fans to be accountants.

If there was no cap to consider, everyone is happy with deals like this. But with the cap everyone has to look at contract value and implications on other signings and all that boring stuff.

Obviously the cap is necessary to ensure teams like the Flames can compete, but it does complicate the business of just being a hockey fan.

Funny thing is, I am an accountant, and I just enjoy cheering for my team. Life is too short for me to pick apart everything. I just enjoy my team, cheer for my team, and wish nothing but success for my team. Everything else is just ancillary.

[TheScorpion]

Here's my column on why the Huberdeau contract is a win for both player and team:
https://flamesnation.ca/2022/08/05/j...-nhl-contract/

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

It's the salary cap. It sucks the fun out of big trades and signings by forcing fans to be accountants.

If there was no cap to consider, everyone is happy with deals like this. But with the cap everyone has to look at contract value and implications on other signings and all that boring stuff.

Obviously the cap is necessary to ensure teams like the Flames can compete, but it does complicate the business of just being a hockey fan.

Agree with the impact of the cap on these things. The NHL is also more like the NFL where good players rarely if ever get traded so its bit of a shock to the system. The NBA has big player trades often. They've also set-up their contracts to have a shorter length (which I expect the NHL owners will try to get in their next CBA)