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First lets take a look at the deal Vincent Lecavalier signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier today. The 33 year old centre agreed to a 5 year pact paying him 22.5 million over the duration of the contract, an average of 4.5 million per year. Tampa Bay owes Lecavalier almost 33 million over the next 14 years as compensation for buying out his albatross of a contract, so he won't exactly be short on cash any time soon. This deal is certainly more reasonable than his prior contract with the Lightning. From a Flyers stand point, I don't see the need to bring in Lecavalier. He is still an above average number 2 centre, but Philly already has Claude Giroux as their number 1 as well as Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier developing nicely down the middle. If I'm the GM Paul Holmgren, I'm more concerned about finding another goalie and cleaning up that mess on the back end. It doesn't make sense to add Lecavalier for 4.5 a year when the team obviously has more pressing holes to fill and already has impending salary cap issues. Vincent is a great addition to any team, but I'm just not feeling it in Philly.
First lets take a look at the deal Vincent Lecavalier signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier today. The 33 year old centre agreed to a 5 year pact paying him 22.5 million over the duration of the contract, an average of 4.5 million per year. Tampa Bay owes Lecavalier almost 33 million over the next 14 years as compensation for buying out his albatross of a contract, so he won't exactly be short on cash any time soon. This deal is certainly more reasonable than his prior contract with the Lightning. From a Flyers stand point, I don't see the need to bring in Lecavalier. He is still an above average number 2 centre, but Philly already has Claude Giroux as their number 1 as well as Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier developing nicely down the middle. If I'm the GM Paul Holmgren, I'm more concerned about finding another goalie and cleaning up that mess on the back end. It doesn't make sense to add Lecavalier for 4.5 a year when the team obviously has more pressing holes to fill and already has impending salary cap issues. Vincent is a great addition to any team, but I'm just not feeling it in Philly.
Draft Winners
Buffalo- The Sabres are solidified on D now for the foreseeable future after adding two beasts in the first round, the all around minute-munching Rasmus Ristolainen, and the Russian house of a rearguard Nikita Zadorov. Raw project forwards Connor Hurley and Justin Bailey fell to the team in the second round as well as the all-heart JT Compher. Nicholas Baptiste is a great add in the third round and Calvin Petersen is a solid goalie they can bring along slowly. All in all I love what the Sabres did at the draft.
Columbus- The Jackets picked up three solid forward prospects in the first round, the intelligent Alexander Wennberg, the rough and tumble Kerby Rychel, and the underrated Marko Dano. I can see all three of these players being members of the big squad in a few years time and having large impacts, so the first round was a win. Dillon Heatherington is a rock on the blue line while Oliver Bjorkstrand is an undersized sniper who oozes skill. Nick Moutrey is a big man and a good project winger to take a flyer on in the fourth. Peter Quenneville has a lot of work to do but certainly has some great tools. This is an excellent crop of players containing many different traits, I see at least four of these guys being future NHL players.
Montreal- Management filled a big hole in the organization by adding some massive size, taking the 6'5 power winger Michael McCarron in the first round along with the versatile Jacob De La Rose (6'2) and Connor Crisp (6'3). Nabbing the best goaltender in the draft in the early second, Zach Fucale, is a brilliant pick up. Artturi Lehkonen, Sven Andrighetto and Martin Reway are small but incredibly skilled scorers, and Jeremy Gregoire could either be a bust or a home run. The Canadiens managed to add size without losing skill, a tough task to complete.
Nashville- Anytime a player of Seth Jones' caliber falls to you at number four, that's an automatic win. Juuse Saros gives the Preds yet another European net minder to crank out of the goaltending factory. Forward Felix Girard has loads of smarts and potential, he just needs time to hone his game. JI Diaby brings meat to Nashville's deep blue line while Teemu Kivihalme has some respectable tools. The rest of the Predators picks are a who's who of different players, providing the organization with multiple options moving forward.
Vancouver- The Canucks were ecstatic to add the all-around game of Bo Horvat and the speed and skill of Hunter Shinkaruk in the first round, as well as the useful Cole Cassels in the third round. Jordan is the smallest of the Subban family, but he possesses great puck moving skills from the blue line and high upside. D-man Miles Liberati will shine in London with increasing responsibilities and the solid Anton Cederholm is a steel in the fourth round. I bet you Vancouver fans weren't expecting a draft this successful!