Florida knows how to reward 0.4 ppg forwards

[Probert 5 For Fighting 0]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=242074

I know the guy was drafted high and they obviously expect big things down the road, but give me a break. If he turns into a 60-70 pt player, I'll eat my words...but the reality is they're paying big bucks for a guy who has hasn't scored 20 goals or eclipsed 30 points in any of his first 3 seasons. Fantastic.

EDIT: This is probably the sort of deal Malone should have received.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Probert 5 For Fighting

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He's pretty good defensively too, but this is overpayment. Hopefully it works out for them.

[zata40 3]

Dude, whats with all the overpaying of players lately?

If he turns out to be a power forward in the future good signing, but if not yikes!

[Reilly 24]

Wings did the same thing with Kronwall. It's a gamble, but if it works out, he'll be a steal in a few seasons.

[DRW Dominance 255]

Yes but Yzerman was a huge backer of Kronwall and once he was in management, that's when that deal happened. If Stevie thought he was that good then he must have been and he was correct.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

They are pretty much doing what we did for Kronwall..

Ratty is a good playmaker, But never really had the teammates around him to snipe it.. Same with Flipper.. I assume they are going to try and make a splash to give this guy someone to set up.. Cough hossa cough.. just my .02 cents..

Its a high risk, high reward type deal, If it pans out and he is a big time point getter, its a bargain.. if it doesn't pan out, its one of those typical florida mistakes.

[betterREDthandead 58]

They are pretty much doing what we did for Kronwall..

Ratty is a good playmaker, But never really had the teammates around him to snipe it.. Same with Flipper.. I assume they are going to try and make a splash to give this guy someone to set up.. Cough hossa cough.. just my .02 cents..

Its a high risk, high reward type deal, If it pans out and he is a big time point getter, its a bargain.. if it doesn't pan out, its one of those typical florida mistakes.

I agree - no way Kronwall was deserving of the deal he got at the time he got it. But he blossomed at just the right time. The Panthers are just banking on Olesz doing the same.

[Hank 0]

And this is why Filpulla will get a minimum of $3M per year and will more than likely get a deal nearly identical to this. Probably at $500K more per season.

Glad to see the lockout solved the money woes in the NHL. Yeesh. I'll never take the side of the owners again.

Message to the PA - 'Get as much money as you can!'

[Frozen-Man 144]

Wings did the same thing with Kronwall. It's a gamble, but if it works out, he'll be a steal in a few seasons.

That's what I was thinking, I don't know for sure but it may just be that we thought the Kronwall was a good deal because we knew more about him as a prospect. If the guy turns out to be good then this is quite a bargain.

[uk_redwing 495]

He has legs...good enough for the Panthers.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

The Panthers are a bad franchise - a place for players to go play for a few years and be near the beach - until they get traded somewhere better....Likely this guy will get traded in a few years. One team is Florida is enough - mistake to put two there - but Betts$$ will never admit his mistakes...

[norrisnick 1]

And this is why Filpulla will get a minimum of $3M per year and will more than likely get a deal nearly identical to this. Probably at $500K more per season.

Glad to see the lockout solved the money woes in the NHL. Yeesh. I'll never take the side of the owners again.

Message to the PA - 'Get as much money as you can!'

Fil doesn't have Olesz' offensive upside and Olesz is every bit as good defensively.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I dont see whats wrong with the deal. 3M is going to be an absolute pittance by the time this deal ends. And if Olesz so much as puts up 45-50 points next season, he'll already by underpaid by market standards. You've got guys in the 45-55 point range earning $4-5M. Hell, Sean frickin Avery is looking to get 4M over 4 years and word has it as many as 5-6 GMs would take him at that price.

I like Olesz a lot. And like 50% of Florida's roster, hes underrated.

[Superman54 91]

Sometimes you gotta make a gamble to improve, and thats what Florida did. This team isn't favoured to win much anyway, so they can risk takin these types of gambles over other teams. I mean what if they do screw up, and the player doesn't perform up to his standards....well it doesn't really matter because its only the Florida Panthers. Thats mentality they can run with.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

And this is why Filpulla will get a minimum of $3M per year and will more than likely get a deal nearly identical to this. Probably at $500K more per season.

Glad to see the lockout solved the money woes in the NHL. Yeesh. I'll never take the side of the owners again.

Message to the PA - 'Get as much money as you can!'

If Flip signed for 3M per year on a 6 year contract, I would jump for joy. And I'm not even that big of a Flip fan. That would take him all the way up til hes 30 years old. Its the 3M over 3 years type contracts that Im worried about.

[MacK_Attack 108]

The reality of NHL business dynamics when it comes to young players now is that you have to pay players based on potential once their entry-level deal is up.

[Majsheppard 203]

DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM

Florida had a hockey team. DUM DUM DUM DUM

It isn't really a bad move, but they have done so little to help themselves that this one move looks bad. As in, this is the line they drew in the sand?