Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

[OpIv37]

Forked from: Ryan Kesler

6-yrs at roughly $4.9 million/yr !?!?!? DAMNIT, that's a deal!

This is EXACTLY why I don't get it when people defend the Sabres' FO. We pay Vanek $6.4 million a year and Pominville $4.5 million a year. They lock up Kesler for $4.9 a year. There are numerous teams around the NHL that manage to retain talent for a good price. Meanwhile, the Sabres either let their talent walk, or overpay them so we don't have cap space to put pieces around them.

[DMBcrew36]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

Unfortunately, the Sabres got scammed into the Vanek deal by Edmonton. In hindsight, those draft picks look like Gold/Platinum compared to Vanek and his contract, but what can you do? Regier obviously, too, stated that he needed to sign the offer sheet in order to send a loud message to the league against poaching Sabres RFAs.

But yeah, the Kesler deal looks like an absolute steal.

[RockStar36]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

The Vanek deal is awful unless he all of a sudden starts turning in 40 goal seasons consistely, but I agree with DMB, Darcy was put in an awful situation with that one and hindsight is always 20/20.

[OpIv37]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

I don't necessarily agree with the hindsight argument. First, if we could have kept either Briere OR Drury, then we could have let Vanek walk. Second, it should have been clear at the time that his salary isn't worth it even if he does score 40 goals a year.

I can kind of see the "sending a message" argument, but is a message worth hosing your cap for 7 years?

[RockStar36]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

I don't necessarily agree with the hindsight argument. First, if we could have kept either Briere OR Drury, then we could have let Vanek walk. Second, it should have been clear at the time that his salary isn't worth it even if he does score 40 goals a year.

I can kind of see the "sending a message" argument, but is a message worth hosing your cap for 7 years?

It's just my opinion that they were going to let Drury and Briere walk no matter what. They were both getting older and while the Sabres were very good, they weren't even good enough to get to the Cup with those guys. Looking back at it, we'd be killing the Sabres FO if they paid those guys for what they are doing with the Rangers and Flyers right now. They are awful and both teams would kill to get out of those deals.

[DMBcrew36]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

I don't necessarily agree with the hindsight argument. First, if we could have kept either Briere OR Drury, then we could have let Vanek walk. Second, it should have been clear at the time that his salary isn't worth it even if he does score 40 goals a year.

I can kind of see the "sending a message" argument, but is a message worth hosing your cap for 7 years?

At the time Vanek got his deal, it was still conceivable that he might live up to it. Knowing what we know now (which is what he is only a slightly above average player), Regier definitely would have agreed it wasn't worth screwing our cap for 7 yrs. He gambled and lost (unless Vanek tears it up in the remaining years). Maybe Vanek just needs a better centre?

[OpIv37]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

It's just my opinion that they were going to let Drury and Briere walk no matter what. They were both getting older and while the Sabres were very good, they weren't even good enough to get to the Cup with those guys. Looking back at it, we'd be killing the Sabres FO if they paid those guys for what they are doing with the Rangers and Flyers right now. They are awful and both teams would kill to get out of those deals.

In the case of Briere, his only success has been in Buffalo. I wonder if he was perfect for Lindy's system and that's why he excelled here. At any rate, I don't buy the assumption that he would have declined at the same rate if he he had left.

More importantly, what's the point of a half-assed breakdown? If the FO was convinced that the current team couldn't win the Cup after '06-'07, why not just let Vanek walk too? $6.4 million a season is a steep price to keep perhaps the fifth or sixth most important component to the Sabres' success that year.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

The Vanek deal is awful unless he all of a sudden starts turning in 40 goal seasons consistely, but I agree with DMB, Darcy was put in an awful situation with that one and hindsight is always 20/20.

You mean like he was until this season?

If he has consecutive bad years then I agree with you but until then I am not going to freak out.

I of course agree his contract is bunk but doesn't it actually go down as the years progress? I know the first 2 were at like 10 mil and they gradually go down.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

I don't necessarily agree with the hindsight argument. First, if we could have kept either Briere OR Drury, then we could have let Vanek walk. Second, it should have been clear at the time that his salary isn't worth it even if he does score 40 goals a year.

I can kind of see the "sending a message" argument, but is a message worth hosing your cap for 7 years?

I would EASILY rather have Vanek and his bad contract over Drury or Briere's EVEN WORSE contracts.....

[OpIv37]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

You mean like he was until this season?

If he has consecutive bad years then I agree with you but until then I am not going to freak out.

I of course agree his contract is bunk but doesn't it actually go down as the years progress? I know the first 2 were at like 10 mil and they gradually go down.

Unfortunately, Vanek has not been a 40 goal scorer until this season. Through 4 complete career seasons, Vanek has only scored 40 twice, which means he's at 50%. He's highly unlikely to hit 40 this season, so he's soon to be at 40%.

He shouldn't be counted as a 40 goal scorer if he can only do it 40% of the time.

[RockStar36]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

You mean like he was until this season?

If he has consecutive bad years then I agree with you but until then I am not going to freak out.

I of course agree his contract is bunk but doesn't it actually go down as the years progress? I know the first 2 were at like 10 mil and they gradually go down.

The salary goes down but the cap hit remains the same throughout the duration of his contract.

[Philagape]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

It wasn't hindsight for all of us .....

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

Unfortunately, Vanek has not been a 40 goal scorer until this season. Through 4 complete career seasons, Vanek has only scored 40 twice, which means he's at 50%. He's highly unlikely to hit 40 this season, so he's soon to be at 40%.

He shouldn't be counted as a 40 goal scorer if he can only do it 40% of the time.

I would throw out his rookie Season( I suppose that is up to you)

With that said it is 2 out of 3, with the third being a 36 goal campaign.

I agree this year is Not acceptable but I don't hate Vanek.

[SkateZilla]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

It's just my opinion that they were going to let Drury and Briere walk no matter what. They were both getting older and while the Sabres were very good, they weren't even good enough to get to the Cup with those guys. Looking back at it, we'd be killing the Sabres FO if they paid those guys for what they are doing with the Rangers and Flyers right now. They are awful and both teams would kill to get out of those deals.

we made it to game 7 of the conference finals with a injured and diminished line up with rookie D-men that haven't played a minute of Playoff hockey in teh NHL let alone conference finals.

as for the F.O. message, Edmonton is laughing now.

[DMBcrew36]

Re: Forked Thread: Ryan Kesler- Contracts

as for the F.O. message, Edmonton is laughing now.

Well, sortof. They are certainly thanking God we matched their offer for Vanek, but they definitely can't be laughing too hard considering they're the worst team in the league and were the first team eliminated from playoff contention - by the Toronto Maple Leafs, LOL