JDP wrote:Kessel is definitely worth around 8 million for around 8 or 7 years an Elite offensive player like him isn't going to fall into your lap any time soon. Can't even begin to think what I would trade the guy for considering what the team gave up to get him on that team extend him and extend him quick.
In a perfect world he takes around 7-7.5 but id have no problem with the team giving him 8 x 8 the guy is the real deal better to pay him than hope to overpay free agent bums like David Clarkson.
One of the top priorities for this team should be making Phill the Thrill a leaf for life this summer.
Phil is a top line forward, but he's not a leader, not a game changer, still goes through big slumps. He is not worth 8 million per year. That kind of money should be reserved for the true elite players of the game. It's the nature of the business and with the cap and free agency that guys get overpaid like that, but as an organization you have to be smart.
This team is still not good enough, you don't pay about 13 million for Kessel/Lupul and still have no true first line center. You need to be smart. Pay Kessel about 6 million and you're getting value, pay him more and you're starting to get in to area's where you're killing your own ability to build a truly elite team. Too many fans get attached to guys thinking they are better than they really are. If we paid Bozak even 4 million, that's like 17 million tied up with Bozak, Kessel, Lupul. That is just simply ugly cap management.
