Commandant Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 <p> Ruttu's signing just raised the cost of doing business. Kaberle is a one dimensional player, only useful on the PP. Can't play regular defense and doesn't hit. AK46 can give us 25 goals and bring a physical presance. As i've said, i think we can resign Ak46 for $4M, but if necessary, you may have to go higher now. AK plays well for about 40 games a year, and sucks for 40 games a year. He is a defensive liability who gives away the puck more than any of our other forwards. And has done jacksquat the last two years in the playoffs (with the exception of game 2 of the washington series). I take the picks and prospects... give the ice time to a guy like Leblanc, and if i need to use the 4.5 million plus on the free agent market, I'm looking for a much more consistent player. Heck Olli Jokinen (a big centre with similar inconsistency issues) who is better than Kostitsyn defensively and has 35 pts in his last 37 games will probably get similar money and be a stop gap until Galchenyuk is ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 <p> AK plays well for about 40 games a year, and sucks for 40 games a year. He is a defensive liability who gives away the puck more than any of our other forwards. And has done jacksquat the last two years in the playoffs (with the exception of game 2 of the washington series). I take the picks and prospects... give the ice time to a guy like Leblanc, and if i need to use the 4.5 million plus on the free agent market, I'm looking for a much more consistent player. Heck Olli Jokinen (a big centre with similar inconsistency issues) who is better than Kostitsyn defensively and has 35 pts in his last 37 games will probably get similar money and be a stop gap until Galchenyuk is ready. Not to mention when he slumps all he needs to do is find a MacDonaldas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habsy Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I'm with Commandant on this. AK's gotta go. It stings a little because he's homegrown. And I've always questioned how the team has handled him. For example, I sorta hoped that playing with his brother would create some Sedin magic, on a smaller scale. Also, Commandant is right about the Kaberle comparison, as I'm one who believes he blows and is paid too much. A raise for AK would be ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willey101 Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Funny thing about Ruutu is that he has only had 2 years where he has scored 20 goals or more. Every other year he scored in the teens, So if he is making $4.75 per season then what does that mean for a 20-25 possibly even closer to 30 goal scorer. I think there is no way he signs for $4 million knowing there is a $5 million per season contract out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMMR Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Going to be working on an ATB article so post your thoughts if you have not already done so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickm Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I think the Ruutu signing in Carolina has set the bar on AK's next contract. I'm sure his agent has taken notice. AK is a couple of years younger than Ruutu, but both play a similar game and have career numbers that nearly match. Ruutu is more physical, AK has better scoring touch. Both players are giving you an average of 18-20 goals, 40-50 points, 125+ hits. With Ruutu signing a 4 year extension with a 4.75 mil cap average, I think we've seen the market for Kostitsyn set right there. While I like AK at what he makes now, I'm sorry but no. I let him walk at that amount. Hopefully PG has noticed what it could conceivably cost him to keep Andrei around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I agree. If someone wants to pay him Ruutu money, let them. It wont be our problem. I do think Ruutu bring more to his overall game then AK does. I am sure his agent will ignore that and focus on goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 I agree. If someone wants to pay him Ruutu money, let them. It wont be our problem. I do think Ruutu bring more to his overall game then AK does. I am sure his agent will ignore that and focus on goals. He may end up getting a slight bit more or less than Ruutu depending on other factors, but its certainly set the market at such a level that he'll be getting a significant raise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 He may end up getting a slight bit more or less than Ruutu depending on other factors, but its certainly set the market at such a level that he'll be getting a significant raise. Not here. In other surprising news, apparently Habs are open to offers for Gomez and Kaberle... ROFL.. good luck on those two (Kaberle maybe). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbp Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Not here. In other surprising news, apparently Habs are open to offers for Gomez and Kaberle... ROFL.. good luck on those two (Kaberle maybe). My question is does that mean they weren't open to moves on Gomez before haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCHabnut Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Kosty was interviewed and said he doesn't want to leave. Montreal is a second home. I question that myself. If he truly loves it here, I would be willing to give him Bourque's money. Bourque is a penalty killer, but that is it. He doesn't seem to do anything. I know Kosty is VERY streaky, but I would rather keep him for less than 4 million than get a 2nd who will take 4 years to develope. He is still a good #7 or #6 forward. If the team was playing well and the lines were more set, I think you would see more success from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chicoutimi Cucumber Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Kosty was interviewed and said he doesn't want to leave. Montreal is a second home. I question that myself. If he truly loves it here, I would be willing to give him Bourque's money. Bourque is a penalty killer, but that is it. He doesn't seem to do anything. I know Kosty is VERY streaky, but I would rather keep him for less than 4 million than get a 2nd who will take 4 years to develope. He is still a good #7 or #6 forward. If the team was playing well and the lines were more set, I think you would see more success from him. I think most of us would prefer to see Kostitsyn re-sign here at $4 mil or, preferably, less. I'm pulling this out of my bung-hole but $3.8 mil just feels fair to me. Now that is a significant discount compared to what he would command on the UFA market. Talk is cheap and frankly I'm tired of players saying they 'want' to stay here and then fleeing for the highest bidder. If Kosty wants to stay here so badly, let him accept a moderate salary to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbp Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I think most of us would prefer to see Kostitsyn re-sign here at $4 mil or, preferably, less. I'm pulling this out of my bung-hole but $3.8 mil just feels fair to me. Now that is a significant discount compared to what he would command on the UFA market. Talk is cheap and frankly I'm tired of players saying they 'want' to stay here and then fleeing for the highest bidder. If Kosty wants to stay here so badly, let him accept a moderate salary to do it. He did say he would take a lower salary to stay in Montreal, but we will have to see what he thinks he is worth. If Ruutu got 4.75 he'll probs aim for 4 I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illWill Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 If the team was playing well and the lines were more set, I think you would see more success from him. Excellent point that hasn't been talked about much with regards to this season. Aside from 1 line, the rest of the lines have been scrambled every game and often several times during a game. It is so hard as a hockey player to be expected to adapt and learn tenancies of new line mates so seamlessly. It's no secret that the best players in the game, those who are producing the most, generally play with the same line mates every game. In this day and age where a string of bad losses can cost a coach his job, they are too impatient with line combos. They don't give the line time to gel, they just keep throwing spaghetti at a cupboard and hoping it sticks. Kostitsyn is no stranger to this ordeal. He has been bounced around more than any Hab for the last few years. Perhaps he is a type of player who would benefit from a regular line? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Excellent point that hasn't been talked about much with regards to this season. Aside from 1 line, the rest of the lines have been scrambled every game and often several times during a game. It is so hard as a hockey player to be expected to adapt and learn tenancies of new line mates so seamlessly. It's no secret that the best players in the game, those who are producing the most, generally play with the same line mates every game. In this day and age where a string of bad losses can cost a coach his job, they are too impatient with line combos. They don't give the line time to gel, they just keep throwing spaghetti at a cupboard and hoping it sticks. Kostitsyn is no stranger to this ordeal. He has been bounced around more than any Hab for the last few years. Perhaps he is a type of player who would benefit from a regular line? Cunneyworth has kept far more consistent lines than JM did, but AKs production under Cunney is far lower than under JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hab29RETIRED Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Cunneyworth has kept far more consistent lines than JM did, but AKs production under Cunney is far lower than under JM The most consistent line AK46 has had recently is with Gomez and yet we are surprised about his lack of production? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 The most consistent line AK46 has had recently is with Gomez and yet we are surprised about his lack of production? he wasnt producing in the 15 or so games before they put him with gomez either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCHabnut Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I'm certainly not trying to justify his streakiness, but Kosty, Eller, and Leblanc were great together. I wiuld put them back together. Play Plek with Gomez and Bourque. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurdBurglar Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Kostitsyn will be good on a team and a line with a superstar. If he were to go to Pittsburg, for example, and play on a line with Malkin or Crosby, Kostitsyn would look amazing. Get a few 2nd assists or 1st assists on goals by players who need no help to score would do wonders for stat padding. It's why he did so well the year he was playing with Pleks and Kovy. If we could create that situation for him his value would go through the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brobin Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Kostitsyn will be good on a team and a line with a superstar. If he were to go to Pittsburg, for example, and play on a line with Malkin or Crosby, Kostitsyn would look amazing. Get a few 2nd assists or 1st assists on goals by players who need no help to score would do wonders for stat padding. It's why he did so well the year he was playing with Pleks and Kovy. If we could create that situation for him his value would go through the roof. I would look great beside Crosby too, doesn't mean I am worth more then $4M. I am not just bragging. My ass is bigger then AKs, much easier for Crosby to bounce them in off. Kidding aside, AK is no longer a "pay for what he will become" guy. We need to pay him for what he is, a 20 goal scorer who doesn't really make his line better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hab29RETIRED Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I would look great beside Crosby too, doesn't mean I am worth more then $4M. I am not just bragging. My ass is bigger then AKs, much easier for Crosby to bounce them in off. Kidding aside, AK is no longer a "pay for what he will become" guy. We need to pay him for what he is, a 20 goal scorer who doesn't really make his line better. Yes and thanks to another idiotic move by a GM (who will probably again say "I should have known better" next year, as he did with Kaberle this year, the price for a 20 goal scorer, just went up. I don't know why the owners constantly fight to change the CBA, when even the small market GM"s make stupid moves to undermine whatever the owners negotiated in the CBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 The price for 20 goal scorers went up? I disagree. I think the price for two way forwards is what went up. Something Andrei Kostitsyn is not. Should be over 100 players hitting the 20 goal mark this year. Andrei likely won't be one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Yes and thanks to another idiotic move by a GM (who will probably again say "I should have known better" next year, as he did with Kaberle this year, the price for a 20 goal scorer, just went up. I don't know why the owners constantly fight to change the CBA, when even the small market GM"s make stupid moves to undermine whatever the owners negotiated in the CBA. How does it undermine the CBA? The players get a set percentage of revenue, that percentage doesnt go up due to "stupid" contracts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machine of Loving Grace Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Rumour right now with Andrei Kostitsyn is that Phoenix wants him and has wanted for a while now, which is a blow in the face of LeBrun's, "Nobody wants Kostitsyn" talk. Phoenix is looking great right now and is just the type of team to pick up an underachieving UFA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 They've already traded their 2nd rounder and none of their prospects interest me. What does Phoenix give up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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