[Signing] Oilers re-sign RNH (8yrs, $5.125 mil AAV, full NMC)

[dino7c]

So, how are the Oilers improving?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yet there are people here who insist Backlund is way overpaid (and I’d bet they include people who think $5M for RNH is good value).

I've always defended Backlund.

He has a solid history of making players that play with him better. He can be shoe horned into a top six role and produce at an average pace, but also has the shut down ability in his back pocket.

He's tied for about the 101st highest forwards salary and has produced at a 94th best forward rate in the last three years.

Add in the other things he can do and he's not over paid at all.

[powderjunkie]

Oilers could have gone 4-4 if they keep this in the drawer.

mavi
raisaItl
JP
Yamamoto

Nurse
Klefbom
Bear
Caleb Jones


Caleb Jones could be a useful piece for any team looking to sign brother Seth long term.

It is hilarious how few pieces they have worthy of protection.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've always defended Backlund.

He has a solid history of making players that play with him better. He can be shoe horned into a top six role and produce at an average pace, but also has the shut down ability in his back pocket.

He's tied for about the 101st highest forwards salary and has produced at a 94th best forward rate in the last three years.

Add in the other things he can do and he's not over paid at all.

My only issue with him is that he can, at times, disappear completely. Last year there was a stretch where he was the worst player on the ice (which is saying something for last year). That just cant happen and hopefully it was just part of the whole debacle last year was.

I do expect, along with the team in general, to be much better next season.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Not enough money for 8 years of crushing existential dread.

This is one of the worst deals the oilers have signed in recent memory, and that's saying a lot. Have they learned nothing in regards to paying mediocre, aging forwards for more 3-4 years?

This does nothing to make the team better and quite likely ends up as a buyout in 4-5 years.

[FlamesAddiction]

I don’t think the deal is bad in isolation. He probably would have received a higher salary but lower term on the open market.

But in the big picture, it doesn’t improve the Oilers and the cap savings aren’t major enough to make a huge difference. Every little bit matters, but they need a lot more to make it count.

[The Yen Man]

Gotta say, that's a solid contract for the Oilers there. Was hoping RNH would leave for greener pastures, but I guess he's an Alberta boy through and through.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by transplant99

My only issue with him is that he can, at times, disappear completely. Last year there was a stretch where he was the worst player on the ice (which is saying something for last year). That just cant happen and hopefully it was just part of the whole debacle last year was.

I do expect, along with the team in general, to be much better next season.

Don't you think that's probably the case for most 40 point/season forwards?

They go three games with 5 points and get you all excited and then don't produce for the next 7 etc.

If you look at his season in 5 game segments he was the following in xGF%

50.3%
64.3%
70.7%
49.5%
61.6%
49.9%
Sutter enters
50.9%
53.3%
54.5%
60.2%
64.5%

He's pretty consistent. His lows are never that low when it comes to play driving, and he found another gear when Sutter took over (makes sense given Sutter mentioning him often)

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Bring back the same team!

With Nurse up next year they don't have as much money as people think. They will spend the entire cap to bring back more or less the same roster.

They had a window this year with a cheap Barrie, an unreal Mike Smith and McDavid and Draisatl putting up huge numbers. Add in a career year from Nurse too.

Their biggest issue in coming years will be finding a goalie to replace Smith's play. Even if they find that goalie it's not happening for $1mln.

This contract basically keeps them even Steven. To last year for forwards, and they are losing on defense and goaltending.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've always defended Backlund.

He has a solid history of making players that play with him better. He can be shoe horned into a top six role and produce at an average pace, but also has the shut down ability in his back pocket.

He's tied for about the 101st highest forwards salary and has produced at a 94th best forward rate in the last three years.

Add in the other things he can do and he's not over paid at all.

The issue is his slot. You dont pay your third line center over $5 million. That is money that needs to be used to allocate towards top tier talent. It's a good thing that the Flames don't have any of that otherwise they would not be able to afford a $10-$11M salary. We just end up compensating really well the Backlunds of the world.

[sureLoss]

contract is somewhat front loaded so buyout might be an option down the line, although the latter year signing bonuses make it less effective

Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
RNH contract strucutre:
21-22: $5M salary
22-23: $5.25M salary
23-24: $6.25M salary
24-25: $6.25M salary
25-26: $4M salary plus $2M sb
26-27: $2.25M salary plus $2.5M sb
27-28: $2.5M salary plus $1.25M sb
28-29: $3.75M salary

[GreenLantern2814]

Eh. When someone offers you $40m after already giving you a previous $40M, I think you say yes.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

The issue is his slot. You dont pay your third line center over $5 million. That is money that needs to be used to allocate towards top tier talent. It's a good thing that the Flames don't have any of that otherwise they would not be able to afford a $10-$11M salary. We just end up compensating really well the Backlunds of the world.

For sure but the two rankings bring that into account.

If you're ranked 103rd in salary and 95th in production you're slotted right where you're slotted.

He's produced at a second line rate for the last three years.

Contending teams certainly have better options though, won't argue there, but for averages he's not overpaid at all.

[GioforPM]

If they bought him out they’d be paying him until 2037. And he’d still be a $4M cap hit as late as 2028. Hahahahahaha.

[Lanny_McDonald]

The Tenderness remains an Oiler on a pretty decent deal. Front end is going to be good value, but backend is going to be ugly.

On the Backlund issue, that is a player the Flames should be trying to move. Just doesn't bring the value to the team that he's supposed to. Mr. Selke has been anything but, and he just doesn't have the offensive skill to be a good second line center on a contending team. Just isn't worth the money IMO and a player I would be actively trying to rid myself of. If the Flames are going to give up assets to move a player to Seattle, it would be good to target either Lucic or Backlund in those discussions.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've always defended Backlund.

He has a solid history of making players that play with him better. He can be shoe horned into a top six role and produce at an average pace, but also has the shut down ability in his back pocket.

He's tied for about the 101st highest forwards salary and has produced at a 94th best forward rate in the last three years.

Add in the other things he can do and he's not over paid at all.

Is RNH overpaid based on your Backlund analysis?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by dino7c

So, how are the Oilers improving?

They save $6.83M on the cap after Neal and Kostkinen are bought out.

[Barca]

Good on him for staying loyal and taking a Hometown discount. I think Draisaitl and McDavid must have influenced his decision, he wants to win a cup.

Term is a little too long, but I guess that's the reward for the paycut.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

If they bought him out they’d be paying him until 2037. And he’d still be a $4M cap hit as late as 2028. Hahahahahaha.

Well, if you assume a player will be bought out the moment they sign an 8 year contract, it should look ugly.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

They save $6.83M on the cap after Neal and Kostkinen are bought out.

Okay and sign? Barrie was their top scoring Dman, plus Larsson, 2 goalies

Again how are they improving