[Signing] Oilers sign Ference (4yrs, $3.25m AAV)

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by getoverit

Dont blame him not coming back to Calgary after he was traded and he didnt want to leave Calgary. Good on him, good pick up for Oilers as much as it pains me to say that LOL

Agree.
Although the contract is too long, maybe they finally are "building something special up there..." I hope not.

[Coach]

Yeah props to MacT, looks like Lowe either trusts him to do what he feels is right, or MacT actually has the balls to tell him where to go. Either way it looks like he's making some good moves. Ference will add great leadership to a young team on the cusp. I would have loved to have Ference instead of Butler on the blue line. I have a hunch they probably talked, but the magic of playing for your childhood team would be too much I think. Plus the $$

[jtfrogger]

Well... this make Oilers better next year and helps them push towards the playoffs. However, I really doubt he lives up to the value of the contract when he is 36 and 37.

The best part about this, is that this is less money that the Oilers will have to pay players such as Hemsky, Nugent-Hopkins & Yakupov for those years. This is the type of player you sign when you are very good and need the extra push to be elite. By the time the Oilers get to good, they will be regretting this deal.

On top of that, I am glad that okotoker gets a good paycheque.

So, overall, I like this deal.

[Husky]

What a horrible deal. Ference is a good player but not at this price. He isn't a legit top 4 but he is basically being paid as a 2nd pairing D. The Oilers today have shown that they are desperate for depth...their inability to draft has hurt them. having the 1st overall is somewhat of an easy pick. After that they have done jack all in the last 4-5 years past their 1st pick and it now shows.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Husky

What a horrible deal. Ference is a good player but not at this price. He isn't a legit top 4 but he is basically being paid as a 2nd pairing D. The Oilers today have shown that they are desperate for depth...their inability to draft has hurt them. having the 1st overall is somewhat of an easy pick. After that they have done jack all in the last 4-5 years past their 1st pick and it now shows.

Everyone overpays on this day. The idea is to make your team better. On this day Andrew was overpaid by about a million bucks a year, and a term about a year too long, BUT this does make the oilers a better team.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Everyone overpays on this day. The idea is to make your team better. On this day Andrew was overpaid by about a million bucks a year, and a term about a year too long, BUT this does make the oilers a better team.

Sure but like I said its pretty sad that the Oilers have been so crappy for so long and they have no developed any decent depth players through the draft in the last half a decade.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Husky

Sure but like I said its pretty sad that the Oilers have been so crappy for so long and they have no developed any decent depth players through the draft in the last half a decade.

The funny part about that is that it sounds exactly like the team I cheer for.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Husky

Sure but like I said its pretty sad that the Oilers have been so crappy for so long and they have no developed any decent depth players through the draft in the last half a decade.

You bring up a good point. They have acquired quite the collection of top end talent (however a monkey could pick 1st 3 times in a row) but have very little to show in the bottom 6 forwards, bottom 4 D. Forwards Hartikainen, Hamilton, Pitlick, Martindale, Rajala, all need to make major strides to be considered a potential full time NHLer. And I remember lots of Oiler fans fawning over Kelfbom, Marincin and Musil, none of whom are likely to get a roster spot this year. Maybe MacT will help them turn it around, but their drafting outside the 1st round has been very suspect.

The Flames on the other hand, have very little top end talent but has been one of the more successful teams of late, with their late round picks. Lots of people would tell you that it's easier to find those role players through trades and FA, and most top end talent is drafted. Can't say those people are wrong. But if the Oilers don't make MAJOR strides this year, being in year 4-6 of the rebuild, depending on who you ask, I would really start to worry as a fan.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Everyone overpays on this day. The idea is to make your team better. On this day Andrew was overpaid by about a million bucks a year, and a term about a year too long, BUT this does make the oilers a better team.

I like Ference but really how much better is he going to really make the Oilers a better team? He's at best a 4th defender and he's not going to be better at 35 than he was at 34. This signing helps the Oilers but he's not a big guy and his game could go off the map at any time because he's never been the greatest defender in his own end.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I like Ference but really how much better is he going to really make the Oilers a better team? He's at best a 4th defender and he's not going to be better at 35 than he was at 34. This signing helps the Oilers but he's not a big guy and his game could go off the map at any time because he's never been the greatest defender in his own end.

Any upgrade makes them a better team. Is Edmonton better off with team player Ference, or crybaby Whitney?

[killer_carlson]

Ference will make the oilers better on the blueline

He also has a cup ring and held a leadership role with the Bruins. Edmonton needs that type of guy in the room. It wouldnot surprise me to see Ference get an assistant captain letter.

I hate this signing as a Flames fan because i think the results will be substantial.

[Jebus]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I would have loved to have Ference instead of Butler on the blue line.

What a foolish comparison. Butler isn't making $3.25M for the next four years (thank god). If both were signed for same money & term I welcome that opinion. But I will take Butler with his warts for a year or two at his value over this deal.
Sometimes this fan base needs to stop over valuing former soldiers. Ference was valuable when he was here, but I wouldn't trade butler straight up for that contract. Suckmonton can keep dominating the market on small players.

[ricardodw]

Butler did not play with Chara, Boychuk , McQuad and Siedenberg...

Hard to say how good Ference will be away from the "protection" of these guys..... He goes from being the guy that can pick his spots and playing physical to being the shut down guy that will have to answer to the McGrattons when he runs the Baertschi's.

In 2007 Ference was a valued contract #4/5 d-man on the Flames that UFA D-man Stuart was a huge upgrade.

He looked great in Boston but I can't see how he will come close to that level of play in his role in Edmonton...... or Calgary if that was the case.

These are his 34-38 year old seasons .... I don't view him as having the physical tools to defy aging... BUT he fooled everyone by being so good at 33-35.


The 3.25M for 4 years is ridiculous. That is 1 M more and 1 year longer than what was probably thought to be his last contract signed as a 31 year-old.

BUT that seems to be the norm this year with old guys on their last legs are getting signed for 5 years and $5 M

Hudler now has a great contract...

By Christmas Hudler and Cammalleri will be worth a mid first round pick and one of these BAD contracts back

[Table 5]

I was hoping it was Brad.

[bubbsy]

i was one of the few that was happy wiht ference being shipped out. He was the weakest link on the flames at the time, and i remember teams were consistently dumping it into his corner, and it was a successful strategy for them. he fit in very well on a very good d group in boston. in Edmonton, pretty certain he'll be exposed. I also think the price tag is steep, but not knowing the oiler's cap situation, potentially a non-issue for now.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Andy how could you?

It's the same thing like when Glencross signed with us.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Jebus

What a foolish comparison. Butler isn't making $3.25M for the next four years (thank god). If both were signed for same money & term I welcome that opinion. But I will take Butler with his warts for a year or two at his value over this deal.
Sometimes this fan base needs to stop over valuing former soldiers. Ference was valuable when he was here, but I wouldn't trade butler straight up for that contract. Suckmonton can keep dominating the market on small players.

I wasn't comparing their money. Andrew Ference is better than Butler. Thus, I would rather have him on my team. The Flames have boat loads of cap space, so the dollars don't really bother me. And honestly, Ference is one of the fittest players in the league, it wouldn't surprise me to see him play out that contract and have it not look so bad the whole time.

[hayduke's dad]

Over Rated Clap clap clap clap
Over Rated Clap clap clap clap

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Good signing. The term is a little long, but when sigining UFAs, you are either going to over spend on dollars or term. That much is usually a given.

This contract is both. They're not going to like this contract in a year or two.

Its a toss up, I like Ference, but on a successful team he should be a 5/6 defenceman. The fact that hes going to be in their top 4 is more an indictment of the team than anything else.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Locke

This contract is both. They're not going to like this contract in a year or two.

Its a toss up, I like Ference, but on a successful team he should be a 5/6 defenceman. The fact that hes going to be in their top 4 is more an indictment of the team than anything else.

Ference was number 4 in ES ice time during the regular season and number 2 in the playoffs on one of the two teams that made it to the finals.

I think you set the bar too high when you say Ference is a 5-6 on a successful team.