Absolutely excellent story on Steve Montador, which contains some numbers that surprised me a lot. He's gotta be re-signed this season, for sure.

http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2010/11/29/the-leagues-best-anonymous-defenceman/

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mechaphil

Good article. I love Montador. I'd love him to re-sign soon.

I wish he'd resign, and soon. I'm seriously contemplating a Montador jersey.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Balderdash! Darcy never makes any good moves in free-agency! ...........

Monty is certainly one of the most underrated d-men in the league (if not the most), and he's only 30, so he certainly has a few years left in the tank. He's an absolute re-sign

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

I didn't even know he wasn't drafted. But that's quite impressive. Very underrated indeed and I'm glad we have him.

He needs to get more PP time with us.

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Monty is one of my favorite players on the team. Good player that hardly anyone talks about.

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--Scott

he's going to get mad bank, 3 million a year minimum. possibly 4, probably 3.5. he deserves it! I hope the sabres can afford him.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Nice. I like Montador a lot. We really have to re-sign him for a couple more seasons.

The title of this thread immediately made me think of Tallinder a few years back. Ha.

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Miles to go before I sleep

‎"Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
-Khalil Gibran

No he won't, if he gets over 3 million I'd be very surprised.

He'll probably get a modest 2.25mil or something a year.

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If you look around the NHL, and the salaries that comparable UFAs have found in rexent summers, it's very hard to imagine less than three. Somebody WILL pay him 3.5, there would be more than a few teams in the bidding. Of course the length of the deal is a consideration as well. 2.5 for each of 6 years is conceivable, but I think he'll get something like Scuderi. 4 years, 3.5 each.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Depends really. All these huge salaries are a thing of the past and he shouldn't command anything too high because of his age. I know 30 is not old in the NHL. But we resign him before his deal is over this year I would think.

He'll get more than his 1.5 or whatever he is earning now, but 3+ I don't think will happen.

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it is? because i keep hearing about players making less because of the cap, but it hasn't happened yet and there's no indication that it will.

Agents are very clever, their salary depends on knowing which teams will have needs for which of their clients. Right now, if Monty's agent is any good, he's telling him to keep on doing what he's doing and try to do everything you can to make the team as good as it can be. Becaus in the summer GMs will bid, and when there's bidding, you get paid a lot of money.

Here's wishing him continued good health, I loved seeing Scuds get hisreward and

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I was talking about these 7+ million dollar contracts that were handed out in 07 basically aren't happening like they were anymore.

They were shorter contracts with substantial paychecks.

Toews and Kane for example. Had they needed a contract in 07, they would have both commanded at least 8 million, would you agree to that?

But both signed for 6.3 million. Hossa's cap is 5.23 million. In 07 he made 7 million, in 08 he made 7.4 million.

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RFA deals are usually based on fair market value, there really isn't a bidding war and the owners have a little more leverage. The Druryish contracts from years past were UFA deals, and there is a significant difference between UFA and RFA.

I could post a picture of Kuivu but I'm too lazy. RFA deals are much higher then they used to be, but still somewhat reasonable. UFA deals are more wild then ever, it's all about supply and demand and now EVERYBODY has money to spend. Jeff Finger got 4 million a year. You may ask, "Who's Finger?". Precisely my point. One mans 2 million/year is another mans 4 million. And Montador, based on his career, is a safe bet to make good on any contract he signs.

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

my question is this how he always plays or is it the fact that he is playing for a contract. though looking at the stats he seems relatively consistent. still have to wonder that as i wouldn't doubt some of the players on this team are like that.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

I think he is playing up for a contract and who wouldn't? Although I can't lie, I've never really paid any attention to his game until this season, so I don't know. But I do know that a lot of players will maintain that level of play or at least try to, so as to prove they are worth their new contract. He seems like a straight shooter to me, I doubt he would become a primadona. lol

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

Given that both of his seasons in Buffalo were either a career season (last) or will be a new one (current), I see him as having found a home and system and defense he thrives in.

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mechaphil