Mark Stone - worth the next contract?

[reggiebarnes]

He might be a leader on the Sens, put committing to Stone long-term at a cap hit of anything close to 7+ million is very irresponsible, especially for a team that already owns the worst 7+ million winger contract in the league in Ryan ($7.25). And, even flirting with 8 mil is just simply ludicrous and a complete display of incompetence.

There are NINE wingers in the entire NHL with a 7+ million cap hit:

1. Kane
2. Ovechkin
3. Benn
4. Perry
5. Voracek
6. *Kessel
7. *Parise
8. Tarasenko
9. Ryan

*2 of the 9 were grandfathered in. Parise's was purposely inflated during the last CBA so Minny could lure him (and Suter) in with contracts they would never be able to get under the new CBA. It's the same rationale employed by the Flyers when offering Shea Weber than mammoth deal. So Parise and Kessel are slight exceptions.

Perry was overcompensated for career accomplishments and had the Ducks over a barrel. But at least Perry was an "elite" player at his position, not just a very good one.
Voracek was always a boneheaded contract by the Flyers, over-committing after a breakout season. But, to Voracek's credit, he at least followed up with another 85 point season.

Out of all 9 of those 7+ mil contracts, Bobby Ryan's is the absolute worst. The Sens need to learn their lesson and put down the pipe.

What has Stone done to warrant being paid among the Top 10 wingers on the planet? Even Gaudreau and Pastrnak recently committed to long-term deals in the 6's. Is Stone on par with either of those guys?

Here's why paying Stone even a nickel over $6.125 mil long-term is an over-payment:

1. Marchand committed to a long-term 6.125 mil contract and is the high-water mark that Stone should HOPE to reach.
2. Stone has never played a full season, ever.
3. His last 3 seasons feature 58gp, 71gp, 75gp.
4. He's never scored 30 goals in a season.
5. He's never even reached 65 points in a season.
6. He's never been a Selke nominee - so while he's a good all-around winger, he's definitely not one of the most complete players in the entire league.
7. He's never made an All-Star game.
8. He hasn't won a Stanley Cup or a significant individual award.

If a team like Ottawa - the same team who tried campaigning in the media for Karlsson to "take a hometown discount" - overpays Mark Stone, they deserve the mess they're making. They're already trying to strong-arm teams to take Ryan's contract off their hands in a Karlsson trade, and people would want them to repeat the same mistake? Sure, Stone is better than Ryan, but that's not what he should be measured against.

Injuries are only concern. He is one of the most complete players in the league right now, and not being nominated for a selke doesn?t change that. That award always goes to centres. He?s a passer, not a pure goal scorer, so the 30 goal mark is not important here. Yes he?s never score 65 points in actuality but he?s been on pace many times. 62 in 58 games this year on a bad team. He?s an elite forward in the game, very underrated unless you follow him and the sens closely

You can?t compare it to Gaudreau or Pasternak , both were rookies coming off ELCs. Stone is a completely different player than both as well, both are better scorers than him but stone contributes in other areas. For example The sens have a better pure goal scorer on the team in Hoffman but the two aren?t comparable players, Stone is much better and more valuable

And no I wouldn?t compare his deal to bobby Ryan?s, who sens had to sign for PR reasons and his past accomplishments.

I agree with you that he won?t get 8. $6 would be a huge steal for the team. He should be valued as $7.

PS The sens have never campaigned for karlsson to take a discount. That?s all media driven bs. They have never said anything other than they will offer him a contract.

Nice discussion sir.

Oh yeah I wouldn?t take him at his new deal for fantasy to be honest

[Axeman33]

They already have offered Karlsson a contract extension.

[reggiebarnes]

They already have offered Karlsson a contract extension.

No, they can?t until July 1 as per CBA rules

[Axeman33]

No, they can?t until July 1 as per CBA rules

Yes, you are right. They PLAN on offering him a contract extension. My bad.

[lucafen4]

it's going to be HUUUUUUUUUGE.... HUUUUUUUUUGE I say

[stevegamer]

Yes, you are right. They PLAN on offering him a contract extension. My bad.

Well, they've certainly been able to discuss framework and numbers with his agent at prior times, so the two sides should have an idea. I'd bet the contract proposal itself is way over half done, with allthe various boilerplate language and stuff ready, they just need to get payment, term, and any extra clauses ready.

[Hoopo]

Unfortunately Ottawa keeps backing itself into a corner every time Melnyk opens his mouth. We are right back where we were when we had to give Ryan all the money. We gotta pay through the nose again just to entice people to sign