With just about 12 hours until general managers can sign free agents I have come to believe that it could be impossible to sign Hossa due to his demands and the Bruins restraints. Do I want Chiarelli to sign Hossa? Of course I do. However, he could very well go elsewhere which in turn, would leave the team scrambling for a plan B. I have your plan B that could possibly equal production with a cheaper cap hit.Marian Hossa, Age: 29, Last year's Cap Hit: $7 Million
72GP, 29G, 37A, -14, 8PPG, 21PPA, 36PIM
Radim Vrbata, Age: 27, Last Year's Cap Hit: $1.225 Million
76 GP, 27G, 29A, +6, 7PPG, 8PPA, 14 PIM
Ok, these guys are eerily similar when it comes to numbers and when you click on their names and look at their assets and their flaws it makes you wonder a bit. I can even explain the numbers as to why Vrbata is at a slight disadvantage to Hossa. Hossa has far more assists because of who he had to set up this past season (Kovalchuk, Crosby, Malkin, etc.). Vrbata had Doan, Mueller, Reinprecht, etc. Which grouping would you rather set up or get passes from (granted the first group is from two teams)? The Phoenix team plus/minus was -97 so it is amazing that anyone could be in the plus. Vrbata had the highest +/- among forwards for the Coyotes.
Coming up...defensive plan B...and possibly plan C
4 comments:
Thats definitely a good subsitute for Marion but I'm wondering whats up with the Murray situation. I figured he would have been bought out by now if they were going to choose that path and open up the cap space for Hossa. I feel that even as good as Murray has been to us as a Bruin over the years, if he stays on this roster he'll just be holding us back in some way.
To tell the truth, I really don't care who they get as long as it helps in the long run.
vince m
Good post McKeon. It looks as if these days it is the "sexy" pick that ends up driving salary and overpaying. I know thse teams like to get big names to fill seats, but let's hope Chia looks at stats first. If he overpays and the player flops then it has a worst effect than getting value that fits the system and wins games.
Why don't you compare Vrbata and Hossas numbers for the last 5 years. Hossa has proven he can produce consistantly year after year, where as Vrbata has proven he can produce in a contract year on a young team. He is nowhere near Hossa.
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