Eller gets five years 17.5 extension

[DC_1908]

Yep, Five more years


Well it’s not the end of the world, but it’s just same ol same ol.


So, would he get that from another team with our expectations and cap situation?  I doubt it


Could we have gotten a player that made us harder to play against and a better asset to win Cups for the same price or less? Assuredly


Is this both a movable and/or profitable contract that can be dumped to gain multiple assets?  No way


Why was this didn’t done before the trade deadline?  Assuredly, Keller’s agent bullied GMBetaMale into a deal that secured he and his clients paycheck, and that he wouldn’t need to move

Between Kuzy, Bura, Oshie, Orlov and now Eller, will we have the same team that is already two years behind for 5 or more years?   Damn right. . .

And also, would a better GM, (ie Amerello, The Captain, Holland, Nill, GMGM, Hextall, Shero) have done this in our situation? Highly unlikely


The only way this makes sense is it’s a sign and trade deal that makes the other team the equivalent of Jodi Foster on top of a pinball machine . , ,

[4 Caps]

I don’t have a problem with this contract.  Eller is a solid player who is in his prime and we re-signed him for the same salary cap hit as he has now for five more years.  That is a good contract.  Plus there is no restrictions with respect to trading him so if it becomes necessary we can trade him. 

[Maacoshark]

I'm on the fence with Eller. He shows signs of of being a very good 2way player but he tends to be streaky. I wish he was a bit more physical. At least we didnt give him a big raise. He is serviceable. I'd prefer if we dealt him in the off season and use Stephenson at 3rd center.

[alta]

$3.5 a year is cheap, I'd lock that in for 5 years over 2 or 3 every day of the week, and Eller looks like his game is still improving. Also, at the end of 5 this player at this price is not a big deal if you gotta let him walk.

[DC_1908]

I don’t have a problem with this contract.  Eller is a solid player who is in his prime and we re-signed him for the same salary cap hit as he has now for five more years.  That is a good contract.  Plus there is no restrictions with respect to trading him so if it becomes necessary we can trade him.

Do you think we could get a 2nd rounder for Keller and his 5 year contract?  I don’t care about the NMCs etc, what makes a contract tradable is who will give what for it.


A rebuilding team would be unlikely to give a useful return, and any contender more than likely wouldn’t take it for that length, and that will be more so each year

[DC_1908]

I'm on the fence with Eller. He shows signs of of being a very good 2way player but he tends to be streaky. I wish he was a bit more physical. At least we didnt give him a big raise. He is serviceable. I'd prefer if we dealt him in the off season and use Stephenson at 3rd center.

Yep, which is why I don’t like this contract, particularly the length.


As you pointed physicality is an issue, particularly when it’s clear the “speed and skill” trend that the front office is trying to compete with is ending to over 

[4 Caps]

Yep, which is why I don’t like this contract, particularly the length.


As you pointed physicality is an issue, particularly when it’s clear the “speed and skill” trend that the front office is trying to compete with is ending to over

If you believe that you are the only one.  Speed and skill is the future and it is only going to increase as the younger players coming up are even faster and more skilled due to better coaching and training. 

[DC_1908]

If you believe that you are the only one.  Speed and skill is the future and it is only going to increase as the younger players coming up are even faster and more skilled due to better coaching and training.

No I’m not, just tell that to Oleskak and Reeves, or the Rangers who where the “speed, transition, secondary scoring, random buzzword, that we couldn’t beat or Vegas that in one year is already a morelegitimate condender than us.

Where trying to catch up to a trend that’s not only ending, but that teams are building to defeat

[4 Caps]

What makes Vegas so good.  It is because of their speed,  they are one of the fastest teams in the league and that is why we had trouble with them and why we have trouble with Pittsburgh. 

[Maacoshark]

What makes Vegas so good.  It is because of their speed,  they are one of the fastest teams in the league and that is why we had trouble with them and why we have trouble with Pittsburgh.

   Its not all about speed and skill. You need those guys on your your roster but you still need your energy players and your defensively responsible players. And even in today's game you need your physical players. Guys like Tom Wilson can change a game with a big hit. It really makes dmen think too much when they know Wilson is on the ice.
   Could you imagine a roster full of guys like Patrick Kane? It wouldn't work. I like skilled players but I'm one of those guys that believes in taking care of your own end first.

[4 Caps]

However even the so called physical players have gotten faster than they were.  Overall players are just faster.  Wilson is one of the faster skaters on the Caps. He is faster than Oshie, Backstrom and even Ovi.  Vegas is one of the least physical teams in the league but that hasn’t seemed to be a problem for them. 

[DC_1908]

What makes Vegas so good.  It is because of their speed,  they are one of the fastest teams in the league and that is why we had trouble with them and why we have trouble with Pittsburgh.

What makes Vegas good is systen, size, athleticism, intellegence and execution

What makes the Hens so good is simple:  The Caps Front Office. 

Sorry man, I know you trust this organization and their statements, but it’s just marketing and covering up for blunders, or worse yet an apathetic approach to winning

[4 Caps]

I trust what I see on the ice and that is a pretty darn good team and has been ever since BMac and Trotz took over.  It has nothing to do with believing their statements or marketing. It is based on what I see on the ice and the results. 

[Beaglefan2]

I’m no fan of GMBM, and have been begging for turnover, but I like this deal. Eller has really improved this year. He is one player we have that actually can take a shot instead of passing when he has a good chance. His puck control is great and I think he will get better and better.

[ArJunaZ]

Crap!!!  I just accidentally closed this window and lost a long post.

I basically said I like the 3.5 cap hit for Eller.  He's worth it.

I agree with Maaco that lack of speed is not our main issue.  We make mental mistakes, careless passes, weak forechecking, and overall poor execution. We are also not as physical as we can be and that has hurt us.  If we clean those things up and our enormous talent can motivate themselves to play 100% for 60 minutes we could keep up with and handle the likes of Pittsburgh and Las Vegas and be a true contender.  We've seen glimpses of this, so I know it's possible.

And here I start to get a bit off topic.
The bullshit bias against Wilson has changed the way he and the team play  We used to beat up teams setting the tone for the games early. Now we are half that at best. Another victim of our insanely PC overprotective culture.

I think that Trotz is too nice and too easy on the player's ego's.  I wouldn't put up with the bullshit of players not starting games at full pace and keeping it up for the 60 minutes.  I don't care if it's Ovie or a new call-up, it should not be tolerated.  I've heard some recent comments by Trotz that got me worried he's too gentle in dealing with these issues, so we don't see much changing. With few exceptions most our guys are guilty of coasting. It's especially bad that our captain sets that example.

[Maacoshark]

However even the so called physical players have gotten faster than they were.  Overall players are just faster.  Wilson is one of the faster skaters on the Caps. He is faster than Oshie, Backstrom and even Ovi.  Vegas is one of the least physical teams in the league but that hasn’t seemed to be a problem for them.

   You are right Vegas isnt a physical team and I think that could hurt them in the playoffs. The Caps the past few seasons have been one of the top offensive teams in the league. We relied on speed and skill but it failed us in the playoffs. I always thought we were missing a player or 2. But at the trade deadline we would add a player that we didnt really need. Shattenkirk was a perfect example.
    BTW 4caps if you think the league is going to be even more influenced by the speed of younger players then I'm surprised you like the Eller deal. Eller is an average skater and will be 34 by the end of this contract so I'm sure he will lose a step. If you prefer speed and youth then you would probably want us to use a guy like Stephenson in that spot. Like I said before In don't think its a bad signing. Its a contract that could be moved if needed.

[alta]

..........

And here I start to get a bit off topic.
The bullshit bias against Wilson has changed the way he and the team play  We used to beat up teams setting the tone for the games early. Now we are half that at best. Another victim of our insanely PC overprotective culture.

I think that Trotz is too nice and too easy on the player's ego's.  I wouldn't put up with the bullshit of players not starting games at full pace and keeping it up for the 60 minutes.  I don't care if it's Ovie or a new call-up, it should not be tolerated.  I've heard some recent comments by Trotz that got me worried he's too gentle in dealing with these issues, so we don't see much changing. With few exceptions most our guys are guilty of coasting. It's especially bad that our captain sets that example.

The bias started years ago, and OV hasnt been the same since the second suspension for being too physical

[Mickstix]

I'm good with the Eller deal.. No raise and the cap going up, he'd of probably gotten more if he hit the FA market.. It's the D and "skill" guys that worry me for the playoffs. We just need to hope Holtby finds beast mode for a long run and have the other team puts pucks in their own net, off their skates and shit.. Easy peasy! lol

[Surreylily]

I'm good with the Eller deal. 
He 'ain't top flight,but he's solid and reliable and he does have skills.   I'm ok with this.

[richkrt99]

I don't particularly care for any 5 year deal....but it takes what it takes sometimes....Oshi....Orlov....Kuzy...


I think this is a fair price to pay for Eller.  I think his results have improved this year, but his play has always been solid.  I remember last year he worked harder and played better hockey than his points stats showed.  I like him.  Fair price for a solid guy.