2) As reported here last week, we postulated that the Vanek offer sheet would not only make GM's reassess their approach to potential RFAs ,but it would significantly escalate the salaries that these players would demand. Before the offer sheet these players were free agents in name only. Now with the mere possibility that an offer sheet could come their asset's way, teams will be forced to be proactive.
3) Published reports this past February had the team and Crosby working on a deal in the 6 mil range. A good piece of change for a teenager in his second season, BUT even then we at FAUXRUMORS were skeptical that Sid could be had for such a relatively paltry sum. With the escalation of salaries for younger players/potential offer sheets, it made Crosby's extension a top priority now before things got further out of hand. What will this mean?
- As we at FAUXRUMORS alone have been saying since last summer the Pens will be forced to move one of their budding superstars in the next 1-2 years. There is NO possible way that they will be able to afford Crosby/Fleury/Malkin/Staal,etc. Even with a continued cap escalation/new arena it will not be feasible.
- It makes our story of a trade of Malkin, that many scoffed at last year, a more likely scenario. Probably not this summer, but if he struggles through a sophomore slump, it could be sooner than later. Certainly this could be his last season in the yellow&black.
- The ball is now in George McPhee's court to resign Alex Ovechkin. From the way the market is going, it may be wise to do what the Pens did and do a long term deal now and not wait for another team to set the terms with an offer sheet next summer. Doing it now would also avoid any distractions and give the team a good idea of its options going into this season and the future.
11 comments:
Hmm my only beef is calling Fleury a "budding young superstar".
I don't think he's very good.
1) Actually many would agree with that assessment on Fleury. As the team's # 1 goalie and former high draft pick the pens still think he's their goalie of the future and as such will get a decent pay cheque, but we have to agree that thus far he is NOT in the class of the other mentioned players
Congrats on the scoop, About 20 minutes after I read your blog post today I caught this story on Si.com
5 years $9M/year (average).
1) We'd love to take credit for a 'scoop', but admittedly the story was leaked to several outets this morning.
2) Its a good deal for Pitt. The scary thing for Pens fans long term is that Sid will be a potential UFA at the end of the deal!
Jibble, you most definitely are paying attention to what is going on "on" the ice... Fleury is BEYOND overrated... The Pens have a bright future, but Fleury may not be a part of it - he's average at best (and Faux knows that)...
With regard to Sid, a 9 mil contract could NOT possibly be unrealistic if the market deems Vanek is worthy of his salary... Its all good for Crosby, and now Alexander the Great will have his pay day coming soon... I just hope that GM GM doesn't screw things up too badly - he's had a pretty good summer thus far... Once Glen Hanlon is replaced, the Craps will "really" be headed in the right direction...
) From Ovechkin today: http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/07/10/ovechkin-reacts-to-crosby-contract-news/
2)Would seem that AO agrees with the FAUXRUMORS take that the Vanek offer sheet DID affect the Crosby deal. He has to be VERY happy! He knows he will be a very rich man(well, richer) very soon!
3) If GMGM is as astute as many like to believe he will lock up AO long term BEFORE the season starts to remove that as a possible distraction during the year
I realize that I'm probably a minority of one on this... but I would be so quick to lock up AO. To lock him up is going to tie up ALOT of dough and cap space for a long time. AO has not yet shown that he's a winner. Yes, he's an incredible talent that will put up some overpowering numbers, but CAN HE WIN? Does he make the people around him better? Can he do what a francise player is supposed to do? I think the jury is still out. This years he'll be surrounded by some pretty good players (i.e. he gets to play with Nylander, and Poti should help to stablize the backline). Let's see how he does.
Crosby is making close to 9M per year, but look what he means to that team. AO has yet to reveal the same value.
1) Interesting take there sauce. We bet many caps fans would take offense at your assertons, but they couldn't argue that he has proven he's a 'winner' yet
2) Thus far he's essentialy played alone, being the only 1st line forward on his 3 man unit. How will he do when he now has a 1st line center(Nylander/Backstrom) and possibly a 1st-2nd line callibre RW in Kozlov?
3) That said, McPhee would be taking a big risk in possibly allowing AO to go unsigned before next summer. Regardless of how he does this upcoming season, based upon his amazing 1st 2 seasons as a pro, there is NO doubt he'd get at least one huge offer sheet.
4) As the face of the franchise the Caps have little choice but to offer him a Crosby-like deal
OK, obviously this can be argued back and forth continuously. But let's just say for the sake of argument that someone DOES issue a huge offer sheet on AO next year. So what?!?! Unless he'a a complete bust, it's probably gonna be for around the same amount that McPhee would have to give him anyway. So I just don't see the big risk.
The Pens locked up Crosby for 9 mill a year. The cap was 10. So assuming that the cap stays constant (just for this discussion), the risk is "capped" at 10 million. Wouldn't McPhee have to offer AO close to that to get him signed now? Probably in the Crosby range, right? So what if someone offers 10% higher? That means the risk of not signing him now is the potential of havong to sign him for 1 million more next year. I think it's worth the risk to see how he does this year.
But then again, as I said, I'm probably a minority of one on this issue.
Guys, guys - how could Ovechkin be a "winner" with this group? He has been playing with high school caliber talent now for two years... Certainly, if there is no discernable improvement in the Craps play this season, Ovi may be held accountable... But, to draw a parallel between his team success and that of the Pens is actually ridiculous... As a fan who sees 30+ Craps games at the Verizon Center each year, it has been stunning to witness the pathetic quality of team play - its an organization that is incompetent at almost every level... Alex's lack of bringing a "winner" to DC is totally unfair... Let's revisit this next year at this time...
AO has yet to reveal the same value.
Alex is involved in a higher percentage of Crapital goals than Sid is for the Pens... As for "team" success, see my previous rant... I will admit, that this season may be the ultimate "value" proving ground - with 6 decent forwards, there needs to be significant improvement... One last comment: Alex was playing on a regular line with Donald Brashear and Brooks Laich toward the end of the season... Its tough to "reveal" value playing with this type of talent...
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