[Signing] Parayko - 5.5m

[Jouko-Pouko]

I'm sure St. Louis wanted that, but the term is likely where Parayko's camp pushed back most

The issue for me is that the Parayko camp didn't have any real leverage here. Worst case scenario is they go to arbitration and sign a bridge contract (not sure if it was 1 or 2 years), and then Parayko is still RFA. There was no reason to panic, Parayko was not going to be UFA after his arbitration awarded contract.

[rataylor22]

The issue for me is that the Parayko camp didn't have any real leverage here. Worst case scenario is they go to arbitration and sign a bridge contract (not sure if it was 1 or 2 years), and then Parayko is still RFA. There was no reason to panic, Parayko was not going to be UFA after his arbitration awarded contract.

Arbitration usually fractures player-team relationship. There's a lot of pressure and benefit to not going to arbitration. That in itself is leverage. You could say Slavvin didn't have a lot of leverage and he got a similar contract.

[RizzeeDizzee]

Arbitration usually fractures player-team relationship.

Agreed - folks not already familiar with the story should google Tommy Salo and Mike Milbury when you have a few minutes to spare.

[The Comish]

The contract is just the cost of doing business in the NHL. Teams need to retain their top rearguards. No question. This contract is fine.

[Luffy D Monkey]

Thats actually not expensive at all for a premier defenseman like Parayko, for those of us in cap leagues who track salary trends. I feel like the only people surprised by this are about 5 years behind league norms.

[Loch]

Agreed - folks not already familiar with the story should google Tommy Salo and Mike Milbury when you have a few minutes to spare.

Tommy Salo always let things get out of hand when they went to his head... at least that's the scouting report Belarus went with!

[Jouko-Pouko]

Arbitration usually fractures player-team relationship. There's a lot of pressure and benefit to not going to arbitration. That in itself is leverage. You could say Slavvin didn't have a lot of leverage and he got a similar contract.

At least Carolina got 7 years and actually a bit smaller cap hit. And Slavin is Carolina's top blueliner whereas Parayko is just the 2nd best in St Louis. Slavin played over 2 minutes per game more than Parayko. To me, Slavin's contract is better than Parayko's contract (not for fantasy hockey purposes but for real life purposes).

[rataylor22]

At least Carolina got 7 years and actually a bit smaller cap hit. And Slavin is Carolina's top blueliner whereas Parayko is just the 2nd best in St Louis. Slavin played over 2 minutes per game more than Parayko. To me, Slavin's contract is better than Parayko's contract (not for fantasy hockey purposes but for real life purposes).

There's a lot of evidence to suggest Parayko is actually St. Louis' best defenceman, even if he's not used that way yet.

And again, I was really just disputing the point that there was no leverage.

[Jouko-Pouko]

There's a lot of evidence to suggest Parayko is actually St. Louis' best defenceman, even if he's not used that way yet.

And again, I was really just disputing the point that there was no leverage.

I know that but there's no way they could have proven it at arbitration hearing. The team can just show TOI and offensive stats and that's what arbitrators understand. Usage is everything in those hearings.