Jim Bob wrote:
Sabresfansince1980 wrote:
1.7 mil is my price to keep either of them.
Rivet's cap hit is 3.5 mil, and then it jumps down to Montador at 1.55 mil. I would slot both Tallinder and Lydman at about 1.7 mil. If either one wants more than 2 mil per I'd let them walk.
Depending how bad the UFA market gets, it might be necessary to keep one or both. Leopold really isn't the player Buffalo needs. He had only two PP pts all season...two. I'm hoping Seidenberg's (9 pp pts) market value stays steady at his current 2.25 mil contract. Kurt Foster (26 pp pts) would be a great signing if his value doesn't go to high from his dirt cheap 600k contract. I'd would hope to sign him long-term for around 2 mil per since his right-handed shot would be needed after both Rivet and Montador's contracts run out next summer.
Lydman & Tallinder will both get MUCH better offers than $1.7M per on the open market.
Jeff Finger got over twice that on the open market a couple of years ago with the Leafs. I would be surprised if Lydman & Tallinder get less than $3M per on the open market. And I won't be surprised if they are making $4M per or more.
All it takes is one desperate/stupid GM that needs a legit NHL defenseman....
Or in this case, one or two stupid GMs
Yeah but Jim Bob, that was during the height of the stupid contract phase. The cap has steadied out, and GMs are under tight budgets now. There is no way they get a 4 mil offer. I won't deny the possibility of them getting a 3 mil offer for one or two years, but that is a stretch IMO. They want to stay in Buffalo, and that is going to HAVE TO include a home town discount. That is why I would offer 1.7. To re-sign them at their current cap hits means not improving, because they are getting older after all, and still won't be useful on the PP. Keeping them at the same price also means not having cap room to improve elsewhere.
They could definitely get a better deal from another team (around 2.5-3 mil per), but that price is not in the Sabres best interest. For them to stay (which they want) and for Buffalo to put a better team together next season, they'll have to take under 2 mil.