Posted by George James Malik
August 24, 2007 15:30PM
According to the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson, the NHL's general managers have adopted a new strategy in terms of player personnel decisions--they commit much of their available cap space early in July, attempting to sign top-tier unrestricted free agents, and after they reach their budgetary constraints, the GM's prefer to fill in their gaps with young and/or cheap complimentary players.
That causes a problem for the handful of quality free agents left on the market, including former Detroit Red Wings defenceman Danny Markov:
August 24, Edmonton Journal: The NHL free-agent landscape is going through a transformation. While there'll always be a market for big names like Peter Forsberg, there's a whole group of seasoned pros who are feeling the crunch, mostly due to the salary cap.
"What we've created in this new landscape is a bit of a have and have-not or caste system (with free agents) ... where the stars will still get their money, but to make that system work, teams may have to fill in with younger, lower-priced, two-way guys," said player agent Steve Bartlett. "Mid-level, seasoned pros are feeling the crunch. Certainly classes of players are feeling the heat."
...
"There's some pretty decent players still out there," said [Bryan] Berard's agent, Tom Laidlaw, "but you phone general managers and talk about a player and they're not negative towards them, but they say, 'I think I'll just sit tight, for now.' ''
Markov is a victim of greed, not the CBA. He could easily have a contract by now if he would lower his demands to something that is anywhere near acceptable. Rumors have him at demanding 4mill a year, and he certaintly is not worth that much, and wants a 3 year deal. The Red Wings already offered him a 2.5mill/ 2 year deal which he decided that he was too good for, which other teams clearly do not agree with, and he can go off to Russia for all I care.
He is asking waaaaaaaaaaaay too much. And that's the only reason why he's still available. I believe the Wings offer was more than fair for a player of his type. I personally wouldn't have offered any more than $2-mil for his services.
He wants 2.5, Detroit offered him 1.5, enough said...
Although apparently Pittsburgh offered him a 2 yr 5.4 million dollar deal, it seems that Markov is destined for the Motherland...
"The Wings actually offered Markov $2.5 million a year for 2 years, but, as of the first of August, Markov was looking for somewhere north of $3.5 to $4 million on a 3+-year contract."
Straight from the featured article of this thread. TSN were giving the same numbers. If Markov only wanted $2.5-mil he be wearing red and white again next season.
"The Wings actually offered Markov $2.5 million a year for 2 years, but, as of the first of August, Markov was looking for somewhere north of $3.5 to $4 million on a 3+-year contract."
Straight from the featured article of this thread. TSN were giving the same numbers. If Markov only wanted $2.5-mil he be wearing red and white again next season.
Well at least someone knows how to do proper research...
If tom poti and his horrible defense is worth 3.5 mill per year to the caps with 100 career points more and a lower plus minus. Then i think markov who has a much better defensive game should get at the very least 3 mill per if not the same. The one year pheonix used him as the #2 pp set guy up he didnt perform poorly. i think its more about giving him more of an offensive role to go on his defensive side so his talents can better examplified. He is not a bad player. heck i would take him over malik on the rangers any day no matter what kind of plus minus malik has complied over the last 3 seasons played. The Wings much like the Rangers in terms of spending but the wings have done it better over the last several years before the lockout. should really consider this guy and not let him go if there is a way they can get him signed.
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Markov isn't worth $2 million a season. If he was, he would have stayed with some team, i.e. Detroit, Nashville etc. He is a good NHL player, not a great one.
Markov isn't worth $2 million a season. If he was, he would have stayed with some team, i.e. Detroit, Nashville etc. He is a good NHL player, not a great one.
Markov is easily worth 2mill a season. He isn't worth 4mill, which is what he is asking for. Please people, before you make a post, at least have minimal understanding of the current situation. And that wouldn't be hard to obtain, given previous posts have all said what I just said.
Markov a victim of CBA evolution?
Markov a victim of CBA evolution?
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