Smells like Brendan Gallagher whom also was given term and money as payback for 'loyalty'

Blame it on the a - a - a - a - a - al - co - ho - Chicago Blackhawks.

Sometimes you just gotta demand what your brother isn't worth.

Either Leaf fans are cheap or other NHL GMs are dumb and desperate.

Yes, 4m for four years is risky.

However, I think Foligno brings a lot more to the table than just grit. He is a leader and motivator and well respected in the locker room.

With Rossi moving up the depth chart Foligno might end up playing with Ek again. The GREEF line was one of the best defensive lines in the NHL the year before last year. Greenway can easily be replaced by someone else.

Foligno was injured for most of last year and seems fit in training camp. In the worst case he will end up in LTIR towards the end of the contract.

With the salary cap increasing and the penalties coming off the books the overall risk is not as big as people are saying. The Wild will have plenty of prospects on ELC or bridge deals meaning that spending 4m in a role player with grit and offensive upside is affordable.

In a time in which raw skill is as high as it is now in the league players that not only bring physicality will be valued. Just consider how much Tampa gave up for Jaenott.

Not a fan of this. As a wise GM once said "It's too long and too much money".
That same wise GM, then followed that move by keeping an aging roster the same and signing some guys to monster 7 year overpayments.