Quoting: JK74
What has he done to earn what he requested? He has potential and has shown flashes but has yet to put everything together. If he's betting on himself he might be out of the league in two years because now he's going to be expected to produce like a $2.25M player. Guys like him and Yamamoto price themselves out of roles due to cost exceeding value. I hope he improves and turns those flashes into consistent play and this contact looks like a deal in year two but I'm skeptical.
Technically, he already does produce like a $2.25M player, though, other than maybe his defensive metrics, but even those are swayed by the awful CHI rosters he played on the last two years. Plus, in two years, it is essentially guaranteed to look like a good deal, with the cap going up as much as it supposed to, and if he does take big steps, that QO will be a god send. Anything less would have certainly been favorable and it would be appreciated that he would take a discount to stay and prove himself, but that shouldn't be held against him. Personally, I want the players to start commanding more. They are they ones sacrificing their lives and their bodies for the team. It's WAYYY past time that NHL players got paid more. And that could force the owners of all the teams to reassess Gary Bettman's leadership, oust him, and hopefully get someone in there that could grow the game the way it should have been over the last 30 years.
Either way, I like the upside. If he doesn't take steps, walk away and/or trade him, or just lock him up at his $2.25M QO, and he'd be a solid and affordable bottom 6 option for the long term, who could float up and down the lineup and is streaky enough to provide in top 6 situations from time to time. But, this contract won't be a problem at any point, and he could look like a GREAT value at the TDL or next summer if he does take a big step. That or he is just baseline. But you can't be mad because it isn't a "great deal", we can't expect everyone to give CHI a discount all the time. We need to expect that players will get paid what they are worth within a flexible margin for slumps and streaks.
At least that is how I feel. But to each their own.