[Signing] Flames sign Zadorov to 1 year deal worth $3.75 mil

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Disagree.

Opens up some options. Keeps the cap hit lower than $4M so they have more room to add another piece without being forced to move someone out (Eichel wouldn't fit of course).

Plus if the Flames do a face plant they likely do better than the third they used to acquire him by flipping him at the deadline as a rental.

The more teams move away from this fear of losing players to UFA the more financial flexibility they're going to have.

$4m isn't exactly ideal either, though. I would've thought $3.75m would've been the target on a long-term contract... it's suspect to say the least on a one-year deal where the guy is coming off a not-so-great season. Sure, he had a $3.2m QO... but still.

[Monahammer]

I don't love the walk to UFA either. I am holding out hope that this means the flames are holding out for extra cap space this year to make a huge move...

[Ashasx]

Pretty happy it's just for one year. Not a good player and a multi-year deal would just be a mistake.

I hope they can get a 2nd for him at the deadline.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I don't love the walk to UFA either. I am holding out hope that this means the flames are holding out for extra cap space this year to make a huge move...

Look for your deal, but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands.

[agulati]

Now got to get Dube, and Valimaki signed. Is there anyone else still remaining from the RFAs?

[Toonage]

Mackey, Gawdin

[HighLifeMan]

To me this screams of the Flames trying to stay in the good books of Zadorov in an attempt to keep him long term moving forward. I think both parties want to see the fit first.

On a 1 year deal 3.75M is the high end of what he should be making. I can't imagine an arbitrator would have awarded more than that. That should have been the number on a long term deal based on his comparable in Carlo.

Let's see how it works out.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by agulati

Now got to get Dube, and Valimaki signed. Is there anyone else still remaining from the RFAs?

Dube, Gawdin, Valimaki, Mackey, and Kirkland are the remaining unsigned RFAs that haven't signed in Europe.

[The Yen Man]

Wish it was maybe a 2 or 3 year, but I'm ok with this. Would much rather have this than say a $4.5M x 5 year contract. I don't think he'd be worth that.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I’m in the camp who would’ve liked more term. ~3 years

Maybe he’s just filling in until the ageless wonder Gio returns!

[Dx54]

More than happy with this contract.

[Since1984]

I like it, if he is paired with a defensively responsible D partner, he will shine.

Edit: I mean as part of a full defensive shutdown pairing.

[flames_fan13]

Short term might mean they want to see how he fits in with the team before signing him long term at the end of the season. If he fits well with the team than the signing could be a risk but if he doesn't fit well with the team a one year deal would allow the team to walk away as well.

Salary seems expected for a 4/5 defenseman. I'm guessing he'll play on the second pair with Andersson to start the season. If Valimaki steps up this season could see Zadorov drop to the third pairing with PK time.

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1428751165915897856

https://twitter.com/user/status/1428751540039430154

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Since1984

I like it, if he is paired with a defensively responsible D partner, he will shine.

I think he'll need the opposite. He's not capable of contributing to offensive play whatsoever so he'll need to be tethered to a guy who can handle that side of things while he commits to defending his own zone.

I'm actually coming around on this because I think there's a pretty low chance of Zadorov working out here... and if that's the case, he's off the books next summer. The dollar figure is still far too high, though.

[Buff]

Just because a player is going to be UFA at the end of the season doesn't mean that the team is going to lose that player for nothing. There is still a chance of signing with the team he's currently with.

3rd consecutive one year contract. Maybe he likes negotiating every year?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by agulati

Walks him to UFA. Not ideal

Its alright, once we're firmly out of the playoffs we can flip him at the deadline and probably recoup the 3rd.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I don't think they're super high on Zadorov, so they didn't want to offer him term. They recognize that he's mostly defense-first and brings some size and hitting ability, but not much more. I suspect they will see how he fits this year and then offer him a longer-term deal based on his performance and fit with the club. It gives them some wiggle room to pay him as a third pairing d-man if he doesn't amount to more than that. If he doesn't work out either for contract or club fit? No biggie, just find another player to fill the role.

I thought he wouldn't get more than 3 years, but this is just fine by me as well. I'm not a huge Zadorov fan myself, but I recognize that he does fill a need in the short term.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

$4m isn't exactly ideal either, though. I would've thought $3.75m would've been the target on a long-term contract... it's suspect to say the least on a one-year deal where the guy is coming off a not-so-great season. Sure, he had a $3.2m QO... but still.

Since it's a 1 year deal the salary is kind of inconsequential.

He either gels with the team and they can try an extension later down the line.

Or the team crashes out of the playoffs and you can likely unload him for a third with salary retained or something.

My only real negative for the contract is that you spent assets and only came up with a 1 year deal. I would have thought there was a longer term deal planned.

[Geeoff]

Interesting. That's a higher AAV than I'd want to go multi-year for. Also, potentially makes him a trade deadline asset. edit: I'm out to lunch..we already drafted players with this pick