I really hope they resign him, but don't want him to turn into another Flip where his 'upside' is always being waited on. $2.5 sounds like a bit much. Can he really command more than that in the FA market?
Consider it was his first year in the NHL on the big ice, with more travel and physical play and he successfully went through some personal adversity and came back strong in the play offs.... sounds like 3 million dollar keeper to me. I think he will only get better, and he was pretty good already.
I love the guy. He went from next-to-zero travel and 40 games in Switzerland to the Western Conference grind and 97 combined games this season, and handled it more than admirably. He'll never be a great defensive player, but he hustles, he is a righty, seems like a good locker room guy, and he scores goals. What more do you want?
If this guy makes it to UFA because we don't want to commit more than $2.5 and a couple years, we'll be kicking ourselves. Get this done, Kenny.
I want to see Tatar and Nyquist up for good. Id like to have a look at jarnkrok and pulks at some point in the season. Lashoff should replace Cola (amnesty) and Sammy should be amnestied too. Cleary needs to make way for some youngsters. Id be happy with that for now as it poises the team for some moves later on that could happen.