Quoting: Will0613
Well he objectively would have hit at least 20 goals in each of the last 2 seasons. He scored 17 in 52 games 2 years ago (27 goal pace), and 15 in 67 last year (5 more goals over a 15 game span is far from a reach). So yes, he is a perrenial 20 goal scorer and a 40-45 point player over 82 games making less than 5 mil. I won't argue the off ice stuff with you, cause i'm judging based off of his on ice production. Based on his production, he alone has fair value in my opinion. But I added Norlinder, since I thought him being a dump would require the Habs to give up more. But needing to attach a 1st just to clear a 4.5 AAV cap hit for a guy who can still produce at a half a point per game rate just seems a bit greedy to me to be honest. That would imply that Hoffman has no value at all, which I don't believe that to be true.
Pace is meaningless. The fact is that he hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to play a full season and at his age, it's not getting any more likely that he will play a complete season. So, hisproduction is what it is, roughly 30 points. Then add in, that Hoffman is completely useless anywhere other than the opponents end. He's not even average at anything else. He's abysmal defensively, can't be trusted in his own end and adds nothing to a team outside of being a marginal, offense only winger.
It's not greedy asking for a first, it's the going price. What did Montreal get for taking $6 mil of Monahan? A first. So, someone taking on $9 mil of Hoffman is completely justified in asking for a first, minimum.
If you don't want to pay it, you can just hang onto him. You seen convinced he's still a good player. That or maybe retain half to reduce the cost to dump him.