Still Pretending
Eric Duhatscheck delivers up a post draft piece that begins with:
In the end, the NHL’s 2009 entry draft was more about smoke than fire, with only two prominent players changing teams and half-a-dozen others still on the board, awaiting word on their respective futures.
This slow-go development, which is becoming more pronounced every year, is tied inextricably to the upcoming free-agency period, and the uncertainty about how the market is about to unfold. If the dollars paid out this year are down from the ridiculous sums commanded by players over the past two years, then the trade dynamic will change as well.
I don’t know why hockey fans still get sucked in by all the trade talk in the period that leads up to the draft. I don’t know how hockey reporters can keep buying any of the trade whispers they hear. The fact is there are very few trades in this league. That should quash virtually all rumours as very unlikely, however logical they sound. Every year we hear about the big names who are about to move and every year nothing happens.
Furthermore, the trades that are made usually turn out to be inexplicable. I haven’t heard a good explanation for either of the two trades made last weekend. Here’s Eric on Pronger:
As GM after GM will tell you, the only real reason to make deals at the draft is if you’re after draft picks in return. The Anaheim Ducks received the equivalent of three first-round choices for defenceman Chris Pronger Friday night.
I can understand why the Flyers would like to have Chris Pronger and I can understand why the Ducks wanted to deal him. But why did he cost so much? It seems a crazy price to pay for one year of Chris Pronger. (On the other hand, the fact that Pronger is on an expiring contract could enhance his value.)
If that one seemed weird to me, the other “big” deal seems to be a waste of time. I don’t understand why Calgary bothered to send Florida a draft pick for Jay Bouwmeester a few days before Bouwmeester becomes a UFA, particularly since his agent made it clear he is going to test the free agent market.
Next up? Teams set their teams for next year by signing free agents while the media pretends – we all pretend – there will be some trades made in September or October.
Easy answer on Pronger: The Flyers think they’ll have him signed to an extension soon.
But you’re absolutely right on Bouwmeester.
Getting out from under Lupul’s contract was the biggest part of what the Flyers got/gave up to get Pronger. Pronger himself was probably worth the two first rounders and they had to sacrifice Sbisa to jettison Lupul, or something like that. I can’t imagine Pronger would be dumb enough to sign an extension before he actually plays for the Flyers and sees how he like the team, coaches, city, what his wife thinks about Philly, etc.
I agree that the Flyers made the Ducks take Lupul and this has to be deducted from the cost. (BTW, I wonder if any other players have been traded for each other twice.)
I agree that part of it is that the Flyers are confident they can re-sign him – probably correctly – but at what price? If he was offered enough, most teams could say the same.
Relatively speaking Heatley is as good of a bargain as Pronger – an extra million – but he is untradeable. The answer is obvious – anybody who takes Heatley has to commit $45 MM over several years in a very uncertain environment.
Getting rid of Lupul and having Pronger on a one year deal leaves the Flyers better next year and in a position to get under a $50 MM cap next year. I think they had to pay to get that flexibility.
(BTW, I wonder if any other players have been traded for each other twice.)
There is, of course, the circumstance of the NY Met player who was traded for himself (Harry Chiti).
I think one of the reasons fans were sucked-in by the trade talk was the player movment that went down at last year’s draft.
In the two days prior to the 2008 draft, Mayers, Mason and Prospal were dealt and Emery and Cloutier were waived. On Draft day, Jokinen, Cammalleri, Umberger, Tanguay and Eminger were all traded. A number of teams also moved some high picks that re-shuffled the draft order.
I wasn’t expecting a series of blockbusters this year, but I also didn’t anticipate just two deals involving players to be consumated.
Heatley may look more attractive by the weekend. Right now, all sorts of teams think they might be able to land Gaborik, Hossa or Havlat without giving up an asset. If the market for those players is white hot, it makes Heatley’s contract look palatable again.
Ottawa’s problem is that they are on the hook for a $4 million bonus payment to Heatley on Wednesday. There is no owner willing to bail Melnyk out of that jam out of the goodness of their heart.
Teams want Heatley — DP is right, they’re just waiting to stiff the Sens on that bonus. His contract isn’t that unreasonable given his production lately, and there are some teams, like the Wild, desperate for an offensive star.
There will be a ton of movement this week, mainly via free agency, but the draft was really just the opening act in that business.
The NY Rangers somehow managed to trade away Scott Gomez without taking on another monster contract. I’m not sure how Canadien fans feel about this move, because it probably means Gomez, not Lecavalier
(continuing from last comment) will be their top line centre.
MTL posters on HFBoards are apoplectic and NYR fans are deliriously giddy, both rightfully so. When analyzed only at the time of trade – sure, Gomez COULD become a 90-point player and McDonaugh may never play an NHL game – this has to be the worst trade in the history of the NHL, certainly in its salary cap era (and I’m not usually one for hyperbole). I think it’s safe to say the pressure of Montreal and the Centennial has turned Bob Gainey’s to mush.
An inexplicable – to me – trade. I don’t like the feeling that I don’t have a clue as to what is going on.