Here's the thing, by the time we are a good team again he may not be getting the second most use time of our centres! If he happens to be our second best centre and were a good team, he's well worth $4.35M.Blob Mckenzie wrote:I think if he's getting the second most ice time of the centres for the next five years this won't be a very good team. A useful toolsy player but not a second line centre on a good team.
Right now he is our second line centre, he will log the ice time to warrant it. And will likely put up the points with that ice time. He's also shown diversity in his game to spot on the wing with the Sedins. Even right now he's paid like a second line centre because he is our second line centre. Take a look at some of the salaries around the league, a $4.35M centre gets you a decent second line centre or perhaps a very good third line centre.
By the time he becomes a third line centre, the good third line centres on contending teams will be paid close to $5M per year.
So really, he's either going to be a bargain of a second line centre if he's putting up the points in that role. Or he'll be a well paid 3rd line centre if we have 2 other centres better than him! If that's the case I'd predict we're back to contender status and I have no problem with Sutter making $4.35M in either of those roles.
The hate for Sutter's contract really isn't justified, especially if you look at who the other centres are around the league making between $4-4.5M per years. It's market value. Especially for someone of his caliber entering UFA years.