Comments on: Newly signed Subban puts “extremely tough” chapter behind him

By: hockeywithdrawal

hockeywithdrawal — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:11:40 +0000

Here’s what I was looking at – Gomez is already taken off –

http://stats.nhlnumbers.com/teams/MTL?year=2013

Also, in two years, Gionta, Kaberle, and Markov all potentially come off the books, while Subban is getting what he earned (for now) and will still be Restricted in two years, correct? They need to come down NOW, from what I’m seeing. I don’t know man…I understand what you are saying but I still don’t agree. We’ll agree to disagree! I’m just glad he’s not playing for the Pens.

By: davebabychreturns

davebabychreturns — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:22:19 +0000

Jpelle it’s obvious you just don’t like the kid. Which is fine, I hate Brad Marchand for example but at least I can acknowledge he’s an effective NHLer and deserved a substantial raise, even if I also think he deserves to fall down a flight of concrete stairs.

The fact is that most defencemen who put up the kinds of numbers Subban did in his first year go on to be impact players at the NHL level and get paid big money.. comparables are guys like Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber and Joni Pitkanen. His second year was not a step forward in production but the 2011-12 season was an unmitigated disaster for the Montreal Canadiens organization and they clearly asked Subban to do more than he was ready for.

Maybe his game will stagnate and he will simply never be better than he is now.. even then he will be worth more than he got on this contract (to put it in perspective just three defensemen scored more than Subban last year while making less than he will now, all three of them were on their ELCs).

So fast forward two years, unless Subban has been worse over that time than he has been the last two years he’ll be signing a contract extension for more money than he got on this one – probably substantially more, and whatever cap trouble the Canadiens have will be magnified because they wanted a short term deal to save cap space through two seasons that in the grand scheme of things will not matter.. there are no expectations for that team to make noise in the playoffs through the term of Subban’s current deal.

hockeywithdrawal I’m not sure what you’re talking about, according to capgeek and including the Scott Gomez cap hit the Canadiens have over $3m in space this year and over $8m next year. That’s plenty.

By: valoisjoeybfeld69

valoisjoeybfeld69 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:21:03 +0000

You are absolutely correct. I doubt Markov is going to stay healthy. His movements are not fluid and his change of direction is not crisp. He seems to be skating on one leg, and when that happens it’s just a matter of time before he gets hurt. Habs brass must be holding their breath every time he’s on the ice. Frankly, why not move him now that PK is signed? His value is up now because of the great start so perhaps a struggling team is willing to give up some good talent and draft pick in return. I know I’ve been pointing out their lack of ability to transition from d to o, and one would think moving Markov will only hurt that aspect of their game. I agree, so if they move him they need to replace him with a d man who can move the puck well and who is healthier.

By: hockeywithdrawal

hockeywithdrawal — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:52:05 +0000

Montreal right now is at $70M…$5M needs to come off at some point. So there’s the point. Plus, I believe the argument for a short term deal was so that PK is satisfied that his salary is going UP, both years. Plus, Montreal isn’t paying someone excess amounts for what they “could be”.

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:19:45 +0000

you’re basis for your entire argument is that subban WILL put up better numbers, stop slew footing people, and stop running his mouth. bergevin won by getting him in the lineup and not having to commit long term. you cant blame a team who just recently had to buy out one of the worst transactions in hockey history for being cautious in signing a 23 yr old punk to a long term deal. if mcdonaugh was still there, they couldve let subban rot for cheap or traded him for some value.

By: davebabychreturns

davebabychreturns — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:47:16 +0000

It’s short-sighted.

What’s the point of getting Subban signed to a short term deal with a great cap hit? The Canadiens are rebuilding, there’s no way they’re going to need an extra million or two of cap space this year or next to enable them to take a shot at a long playoff run.

Elliotte Friedman did a good job of finding the other recent Canadiens “bridge contracts,” for Tomas Plekanex, Mac Pacioretty, Carey Price and Josh Gorges. The Canadiens got great deals on those bridge contracts and then had to turn around and sign those players to pretty much market value – Gorge’s cap hit is $3.9m, Pacioretty $4.5m, Plekanec $5m, Price is $6.5m.

I maintain that the Canadiens should have shown some flexibility on dollars in exchange for picking up a couple of extra years on the contract, you know that Subban is going to put his offensive game together and be asking for $5m or more two years from now and he’ll get it.

It’s not a make or break decision, I just don’t see the point of all this beyond Bergevin winning some kind of moral victory.

By: reeggss

reeggss — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:35:53 +0000

This guy is a locker room killer, glad he resigned…as a sabres fan

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:24:32 +0000

me too i had to go back and look at it, def good signing for both parties. if he improves in this 2 yrs he will be in good position to get what he wants and the habs will be happy to pay him – big difference in 4 yrs worth of production in contract negotiating vs 2 years.

By: govtminion

govtminion — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:15:25 +0000

To be honest, when I saw the deal, I assumed that was the amount he wanted per year… Montreal got a steal out of this signing.

By: bardown66

bardown66 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:06:04 +0000

Subban has potential, no doubt. I’d still take letang, doughty, and pietrangelo over him though.

By: valoisvipers

valoisvipers — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:59:42 +0000

If the Glassman Markov stays healthy that would sure help out PK’s game.

By: hockeywithdrawal

hockeywithdrawal — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:31:43 +0000

I don’t know about that, his team has already played four games without him, and did well. I don’t buy anything he says. I’ll bet he ‘demands’ a trade at some point.

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:24:51 +0000

in all seriousness, 2 years 5.75 is fair, thats about what he is worth right now. dont know why it took so long if thats all it was gonna be. sounds like subban buckled, good work by Bergevin.

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:20:17 +0000

That’s all he got?

By: jpelle82

jpelle82 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:17:34 +0000

bahahaha “i see them in my dreams”. i think he is confused. “fans” means people….not $$$$

By: valoisjoeybfeld69

valoisjoeybfeld69 — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:15:16 +0000

This doesn’t sound like a loud mouth, selfish and ego driven player. The d men can use him, and Therrien said he wants to help him grow. We’ll see if he can make him the player he needs to justify Bergevin’s decision to pay him 3.75 next year. .