Mike Matheson also got a 7 year deal. Was he a core member of the Panthers?
What about Josh Anderson?

Those are 2 recent examples, theres way more non-core players that get long term deals

Seriously are you mental? Anderson was traded THEN signed a 7 yr deal. Matheson was traded after 2 yrs and before his NMC kicked in by a franchise that has an ownership mandate to cut payroll. You are grasping at straws trying to win an argument that you are wrong about and just want to argue. But go ahead tell me what other little factoid you want to have me disprove.

Both guys signed 7 year deals with their team. That was your arguement for telling me that Girard is more valuable that Toews

Anderson signed with MTL AFTER being traded there. I just explained why Matheson was traded. Did I say he could never be traded? No. I also said show the numbers demonstrating Toews at 100 less NHL games, being better. I’m trying to keep it simple for you. Girard is younger, more experienced, on a longer contract, and better. I said show me how Toews is better and yet you don’t. Forget about the fact Girard avg more ice time on a better team. Don’t bother responding you can’t see the obvious.

... I just showed you both of their number in the most recent NHL season. Toews demolishes Girard everywhere. Just because Girard is younger and makes more doesnt mean he is better.

Toews has a higher career xWAR in about 100 less games and in less ice time

Playing in a defensive 1st system of Barry Trotz, but hey you go with that. In fact tell me how xWAR is calculated or which model basis you used and I might agree with you. And while we could argue WAR as a stat in hockey Vs it’s origins in baseball, and how it translates to a transition team vs a defensive first team. We will circle around to the original pt, COL WOULD protect Girard over Toews in the expansion draft. Even in the event that Toews was marginally better (he is not), you actually think the Avs are going to expose a 22yr old top 4 dman signed for the next 7 years on team friendly deal, over a 27yr old dman with a season and a half of experience signed for the next 4 years? Toews would have to be SIGNIFICANTLY better (which he is not) than Girard to make your point true. But AGAIN it won’t matter because both will be protected.

It'll take me forever to explain it here, so just read this article written by the EvolvingHockey brothers

Part 1: https://hockey-graphs.com/2019/01/16/wins-above-replacement-history-philosophy-and-objectives-part-1/
Part 2: https://hockey-graphs.com/2019/01/17/wins-above-replacement-the-process-part-2/
Part 3: https://hockey-graphs.com/2019/01/18/wins-above-replacement-replacement-level-decisions-results-and-final-remarks-part-3/

Coaching isolates rank trotz system 18th defensively.