Five years, $26 million for Big Buff in Atlanta

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

via @Real_ESPNLeBrun

@CraigCustance reports that it includes a "modified" no-trade clause.

Edited February 15, 2011 by CaliWingsNut

[T-Ruff 47]

Overpayment.. You'd think they'd have some more bargaining power for a guy who just went a month without a point. It's the Thrashers though so their fans will be pleased and its pretty key for them to keep their stars going forward

[HockeytownRules19 902]

That's Crazy! Byfuglien is very good player, but $5+ mill a year for him

Congrats Buff though lol

Edited February 15, 2011 by HockeytownRules19

[egroen 384]

Lol

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Overpayment.. You'd think they'd have some more bargaining power for a guy who just went a month without a point. It's the Thrashers though so their fans will be pleased and its pretty key for them to keep their stars going forward

I don't think it's an overpayment.

It's in line with what many teams are paying for their top defensemen, while he has now proven he can play both forward and defense.

[sleepwalker 512]

Now I like big Buff and think he is a good player...

...but paying over $5 million a year for him is pretty ridiculous.

[Barrie 900]

Why do I have this feeling in a few years Atlanta will regret this deal? Any downturn in his career, they're stuck with him, it's an unmovable contract!

[Echolalia 2,961]

I think 5M is justified. Top five offensive defensman league-wide, versatile enough to be effective as a forward. His D is lacking for a top 2 Dman, but compared to the rest of the league is average enough.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I think Atlanta may regret this down the road. He's had a good season but...yikes.

At least he stays in the east and we wont have to see him very often

[Osgood=WIN! 0]

I think Atlanta may regret this down the road. He's had a good season but...yikes.

At least he stays in the east and we wont have to see him very often

Well put.

[Nevermind 363]

Were they paying for him by the pound or what?

[hooon 1,089]

I agree. That is a bit of an overpayment. I don't think he would get that much on the open market. Good for him though, hopefully Atlanta can keep building a strong contending team.

[wingslogo19 281]

Seems a bit much imo

[Drake_Marcus 890]

5mil a year for 5 years? Smells like overpayment to me.

He has no history as a scoring defenseman to back-up the idea that he can maintain his level of offensive production. He's been in a massive slump this month and that certainly doesn't make me feel more confident that his offensive production this season is going to continue for the next 5 years. Add to that the fact that he doesn't play on the PK and isn't even the best defenseman on his team (see: Enstrom) and this deal reaks of overpayment.

Maybe Buff will regain his scoring touch and teams won't figure him out and start to neutralize him (see: Green and Phaneuf). Then again, maybe his love of jumping into the play will start to bite him in the ass as teams break his game down.

5 million a year for 2 years would have been more reasonable.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Seems about right to me. Guys on defense who can score yah 55+ points a season tend to get paid pretty well. Plus it's his first season there as a DMan and he is only 25, he will probably be a 60-80 point defensemen in a year or two. This might be a steal in a couple years, unless they don't retain their assets and sign a couple more players for a serious playoff push.

[wings1110 184]

idk if he can play like he has this year in the future

[Konnan511 1,736]

5mil a year for 5 years? Smells like overpayment to me.

He has no history as a scoring defenseman to back-up the idea that he can maintain his level of offensive production. He's been in a massive slump this month and that certainly doesn't make me feel more confident that his offensive production this season is going to continue for the next 5 years. Add to that the fact that he doesn't play on the PK and isn't even the best defenseman on his team (see: Enstrom) and this deal reaks of overpayment.

Maybe Buff will regain his scoring touch and teams won't figure him out and start to neutralize him (see: Green and Phaneuf). Then again, maybe his love of jumping into the play will start to bite him in the ass as teams break his game down.

5 million a year for 2 years would have been more reasonable.

That's not really Green's fault, that is more Jobba the Dreau. Case in point, see OV.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

That's not really Green's fault, that is more Jobba the Dreau. Case in point, see OV.

Green fizzled towards the end of last year and sucked donkey balls in every playoff game he's ever played.

But I do agree that Washington needs a new coach.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

It is an overpayment, but in comparison, he's no more overpaid than some of the other players in the league.

Guys like Brian Campbell or Jeff Finger are just some that come to mind.

[kylee 727]

and LGW thinks Ralfalski is overpaid. Yikes.

[crotty99 302]

Obviously a huge overpayment.

Atlanta better hope he gets to play with Enstrom for the duration of that 5 year deal.

Good on him though, he has taken his opportunity this year and become a real leader for that team. Besides, an overpayment is probably required to keep someone in Atlanta for that long.

[Guest Crymson]

Seems about right to me. Guys on defense who can score yah 55+ points a season tend to get paid pretty well. Plus it's his first season there as a DMan and he is only 25, he will probably be a 60-80 point defensemen in a year or two.

I sense flawed logic.

[vladdy16 2,154]

It's not an overpayment - he just sold his chance to ever win a Cup.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

It's not an overpayment - he just sold his chance to ever win ANOTHER Cup.

Fixed.

Big Buff will epitomize that season for Chicago last year. One and done.

[stevkrause 1,247]

It might be an overpayment for a team with some history, but for a team just struggling to put butts in the seats and barely making the cap floor... they have to pay SOMEONE... I think they're just greatful to actually be keeping a player they can market to their fans as a face for the franchise