Fans of the Phoenix Coyotes really must be beginning to wonder what is going on in their city. I mean, just take a look at their team's most recent trade with the much-despised Atlanta Thrashers.
to Pho: J.Hecht (3 years @ 2.729M : NHL stats = 6 G 10 A in 40 GP -10) 600k
to Atl: T.White (1 year @ 1.4M : NHL stats = 14 G 30 A in 51 GP -9) Pit 4 Pho 6 Atl 6
The team is nine points out of a playoff spot with 36 games to go. Sure there is a lot of time left in the season, but there are four other teams ahead of them battling for that same playoff spot and another team just two points behind them (Nashville).
Does a move like this actually help the team? Picking up Hecht who will consume an additional $1.329M in cap space (than Todd White) does little to improve the team. In addition, Hetch has two more years left at $2.729M. Based on his NHL stats alone, his expected re-rates will not justify such a salary. In addition, Phoenix gave up three draft picks leaving them with nothing for the 2009 BRHL Entry Draft.
With the team losing Sergei Zubov, Teemu Selanne, Slava Kozlov, Teppo Numminen, Eric Belanger, Tom Preissing and Radek Martinek to unrestricted free agency this summer, it begs the question... Just how bad is this team going to be in 2009-10? One this is almost certain; that fans of these desert dogs will be absolutely howling in despair for the foreseeable future.
-- Edited by Anaheim GM at 10:40, 2009-02-03
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2007-08 - missed playoffs (29th overall) 2008-09 - missed playoffs (26th overall) 2009-10 - 7th place in Western Conference (99 pts), Conference Semi-Finals 2010-11 - missed playoffs (19th overall) 2011-12
White's an unrestricted UFA after this season, granted that he'll be overpaying for hecht but if he rebounds next season, he'll get a good rerate for hecht....
if atlanta resigns white with the bonus, then it's a huge win for kirk... if not, steve parted with three late picks for some cash and hecht... i think that's a pretty decent deal....
While I realize that my chances of making playoffs are not great, I'm still gonna take a crack at it - whether that is ill-advised or not remains to be seen, but I honestly think I can get in...
Looking at ratings this year, I feel that Hecht is better rated that White. He has better DF and SC, two things I think will really help my team. Sure he is lesser in some other categories, but he becomes one of my best scorers and my best PK winger. He can play on top two lines, and 1st line PK, whereas I feel White wasn't quite rated as a scoring line winger.
THey are pretty close in value for this year - no question. So basicly I added a 4th and 2 6ths for 2 extra years of service + 600k. You suggest the two extra years of service is a bad thing based on his upcoming rerates. I disagree. He'll be a good 3rd liner next year, there is no question. He plays 1st or 2nd unit PK in BUF, so will get a good DF rate and thus will likely be a decent 3rd liner and PKer. To fill a position like that with a UFA will require probably a 3 + million salary. So to me its worth it.
As for the future of my team well there are two ways to look at it:
If I crash and burn in the next few weeks, I'll become a seller and will start full-on into a rebuild. Thus, my roster for next year is pretty irrelevant as I'd just suck anyway (hence I still have my 1st next year). On the other hand, if I start to turn it around, I'll keep the roster and be left with what I currently have for next year. Based on the guys I have right now, I think that next year I will have a decent team:
Top 2 lines: - Note the number in brackets is the players ranking for points/game amongst all forwards. - Note that top line guys would be ranked 1-90, 2nd line 91-180 (obviously just and estimate, as rates are dependent on so much more...)
Kozlov(53) Connoly (40) Selanne (58) - tag kozlov and selanne Erat (98) Sundin (?? - god I hope he gets better) Nolan (113)
Bottom 2 lines: Laperriere, Vrbata, Slater, Goc, Begin, Bourque, Prucha - hard to tell how exactly these guys will rate, but should be ok...
Defense: Poti - Hamrlik (decent top 2) ?? ?? Niskala/Pock/Boychuck
Goalie: Lehtonen Lalime Raycroft
Hard to say how my goalies will rerate, but I think between the three of them I'll be ok...
So I'd think I have a pretty solid roster. I obviously would need to add some defensemen. With a committed payroll of approximately 34 million, I'll have the capacity to add a couple guys via FA or perhaps by trading one or two of those bottom 2 line forwards.
However, if my ratings aren't as I am hoping (aside from sundin and the goalies I think my hopes are very realistic at this point), I'll have to enter into-rebuild mode in the offseason. Thats ok though, as I have already mentioned I still have PHO1 next year and don't plan to trade it.
In conclusion, I apprecieate your post, but as you see, there is a method to my madness, agree with it or not....
