They've been worse since they made that deal. 2 and 3. Prices are absurd right now for role players. Sather has done the right thing by not paying these idiotic prices. The Vermette deal just made Zucc more valuable. Other than faceoffs he's a considerably better player than Vermette.
After reading the article like Brooks, I'm eager to ship Zucc out in the right deal. I can't believe that jackass played one and a half years for the most part and thinks he should get over 5 million. I also can't believe he turned down a 6 year, 4.5 million deal. The lousy attitude of players on this team with money is becoming a problem. I'm glad Sather is taking a stand. He was wrong to offer Cally what he did last year. Right to get rid of his ass when he was so stupid he turned down a deal offered to him which he didn't deserve in the first place. Like I've been telling you for over a month Chuck and maybe now you will understand. You don't go throwing away draft picks for every tool at the deadline. The reason you don't do that is because you constantly need young players to stay under the cap and have a deep, competitive team. A main reason are jackasses like Cally and Zucc who ask for absurd money that they don't deserve. Any time you are a winning team, all your players think they should be paid like stars. Sather said that last year.
I'm seeing more and more a Zucc deal centered around Glencross. Makes sense. Calgary has lots of cap room and can offer him a big contact.
I disagree with you (shocker...). The deal that really set the price of a 1st was the Kings deal for Skera NOT the Preds deal where they got Franson AND Sant. That was a smart deal getting TWO players. The Kings desperate deal for a dman who is solid, but not a top pair guy, is what set the market more. So I disagree with you on the Preds deal being the one.
And I still disagree with you on trading the RIGHT draft picks. And I also don't see Zucc's value to a team out of it considering he is a UFA. The Flames may not be able to resign him. He may want no part of being in Calgary, who knows. I do think Zucc would have A LOT of value to a team going for a cup, more than Vermette, but then we are looking at picks/prospects in return, which makes no sense for our team that is one of the best in the league, and going for a cup. All these Zucc deals have us getting the worse player. Bozak is worse than Zucc. Glencross (who might not even allow a trade to the Rangers) is worse than Zucc. This is why I think the smart play is hold onto Zucc, go add some bottom 6 depth, take a great shot at the cup, and let the chips fall where they may with Zucc this summer. I think Prod feels the same way. I don't want to get worse when I am close to winning a cup, seems counter-productive to me. Let it play out, and whatever will be will be.
A good lesson why you should not trade picks often. Girardi wanted over 5 million. Staal wanted over 5 million. Brassard wanted over 5 million. McDonagh who was just coming into his own wanted over 4 million. Stepan will want over 6 million. All these guys want to be paid like stars. Kreider if he hits 25-25 before his contract is up will want 5+ million and they will give it to him. You need a good farm that constantly produces.
Thankfully we have that with or without an extra 2nd this season. Hayes, Kreider, Buch, Duclair, Skjei, Miller. So we are in good shape thankfully and can totally afford to deal the 50th or so pick in the draft. Getting Hayes was a great move, it meant we did NOT deal our 1st last year.
