Miller's price set, Henrik Lundqvist 6 years around 39 million

[TheAnswer74]

The Rangers have locked up their franchise goaltender for the foreseeable future.

Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers have agreed upon a contract that will keep the 25-year-old netminder between the Garden's pipes well past his 30th birthday.

While the length and value of the deal - believed to be for six years at more than $6.5 million per - have been set, there is language in the contract that is still being hashed out. So the Rangers are not expected to make a formal announcement until tomorrow at the earliest.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2008/02/13/2008-02-13_henrik_lundqvist_rangers_strike_6year_de.html

[ROOK33]

I have no problem with Miller getting the same at all.
Sign him up!!

[mosuavea]

That's a boat load of cash, see ya Soupy. No way they can do both IMO

[beTough54]

Hopefully now you see the tricky balance Regier has to strike. He had no choice but to be behind the 8 Ball on this one since he isn't allowed to negotiate with Miller until next year. The big market Rangers were going to set the price no matter what Regier did. At least they were nice enough to do it before the trade deadline.

Who is worth more to the team at 6.5/year, Miller or Campbell? The answer to that question is clear.

[slowpokemcgee]

Give him the money Darcy.

[two4trippn]

Lydman and Afinogenov leave and that gives Darcy Campbell and Kalinin $$$. The following year Connolly's deal is up and they'll part ways with Spacek freeing up the room for Miller.

[beTough54]

Lydman and Afinogenov leave and that gives Darcy Campbell and Kalinin $$$. The following year Connolly's deal is up and they'll part ways with Spacek freeing up the room for Miller.

So you dump 2 of our top 4 D-men and the only 2 offensively creative players on the team for a power play specialist and Miller?

What about Pominville, MacArthur, Paille, and Stafford? How do they fit in?

Managing a team is not as easy as Bucky would have you believe. You have to make hard choices and look several years into the future.

[ddpderek]

Jagr days as a Rag are numbered.

[jlpubarch]

I can't believe two things:

1) How bad the Rangers are going to be for A LONG TIME. Drury and Gomez underperform...they have no defense...and this contract will hamstring their ability to acquire a decent defenseman.

2) How stupid the Rangers are for setting the bar this high on a goalie that is clearly having a down year...God, I hate their stupid asses.

[CrazzyLegs10]

Lydman and Afinogenov leave and that gives Darcy Campbell and Kalinin $$$. The following year Connolly's deal is up and they'll part ways with Spacek freeing up the room for Miller.

kalinin? he has 1/4 good games each year 2/4 bad games and 1/4 of the games he doesn't play. he should be a veteran by now but can't play a whole season like it, and he was horrible vs OTT last year in the playoffs, bye Kalinin insert Paetsch and save $

[anEinherjer]

And the lockout was for what purpose again?

Hey Crazzy don't look now but Kalinin has been very good for the last dozen games at least.

[Carl J. Ironsides]

Did Glen Sather hit his head at some point after leaving the Oilers?

Anyway, who's to say this will definitely be Miller's price? Kiprusoff took a discount for less than $6 million to help the Flames, and Miller seems like the type who might do that for Buffalo.

Initially, I'd try to hook him for six years, $30 million. If he thinks that's an insult, keep going up toward $39 million until he agrees.

[Ralonzo]

See ya Campbell...

[SHINEdown30]

We need to lock up Miller. But Lundquist is better than Miller(not by much though). I say Miller would get 5.5 range.

[Scary Good]

Lydman > Kalinin

[skoorah720]

And this is THIS year's price tag. Who knows what it'll be next year when the Sabres try to sign Miller...close to 7 mil a year? Miller and his agent should send a fruit basket to Sather and Lundqvist's agent.

[bduff54]

wow, that is a lot. i would put he and miller in the same class too

[two4trippn]

So you dump 2 of our top 4 D-men and the only 2 offensively creative players on the team for a power play specialist and Miller?


Hang on there. First off, I'm suggesting losing ONE D man to keep Campbell with ONE forward who has been replaced financially and talent wise with youth and more recent draft pick (Paille and Stafford). If you're dumping Lydman's $3.5+ m, Campbell fits under this teams cap. Personally, I'd rather see Kalinin re-signed and Campbell dealt to improve our Center situation but that's unlikely.

A year later, when Spacek is 100 games more weathered and Connolly is 100 games (hopefully) more experienced (most likely injured) I gave a solution that fits under the cap to keep the teams' Goalie. The second aspect doesn't come into play until 12+ months from now, which means anything could happen but with the youth movement and the amount of young depth this club has, a few must go. You can blame the cap or blame the player that can be replaced for less.



What about Pominville, MacArthur, Paille, and Stafford? How do they fit in?

Managing a team is not as easy as Bucky would have you believe. You have to make hard choices and look several years into the future.

Its not easy, that's why I suggested removing two forwards that combine for $7m of cap space and dissolving their salaries into our up & comers. Do you think Tampa wants to lose some of their core? St Louis, Richards, Lecavalier, Boyle somethings gotta give especially since they don't have goaltending which further proves the point of room for Miller.
Gaustad and Kalinin, I feel, are two Sabres that would take less $$$ to stay in Buffalo compared to the market.

[two4trippn]

Lydman > KalininBut with the cap, keeping Kalinin and pairing him with Tallinder may save you another rostered player. Stat wise Kalinin is better, look it up Thurman!

[SabresAllTheWay]

Buh Bye Campbell...hello cash for Millsey

[Schony]

I still wouldn't base a Campbell decsion on the basis of paying Miller to the level of Lundqist's contract. Better or worse we've got to live in the present and if the Sabres can lock up a player like Campbell to a multi-year contract this year they need to do it. What good does clearing space to resign Miller next year do if he would rather play somewhere else like Detroit? As I've said here before, the Wings would go after him hard as they will have a real need in goal after. If the organization wants to keep Miller here, maybe at a discount, they will have to offer him more than money...ie) a competitive team where he has a chance to win with his buddies. I strongly believe you sign BC now for the best price he'll accept and deal with salary issues next year. That being said I'd be open to trading him if there is something really good in terms of filling a uniform now being offered..... draft picks, even 1st rounders aren't going to make/keep this team competitive for at least 3 years unless we can somehow get someone to part with a top 3 pick this year or next...and I don't see why any team would do that for a UFA.

[The Grin]

I can't believe two things:

1) How bad the Rangers are going to be for A LONG TIME. Drury and Gomez underperform...they have no defense...and this contract will hamstring their ability to acquire a decent defenseman.

2) How stupid the Rangers are for setting the bar this high on a goalie that is clearly having a down year...God, I hate their stupid asses.

No kidding, for the next 5 years, they have just over $20 Million tied up in Drury, Gomez, and Lundquist. That could screw them if the salary cap doesn't keep increasing.

[two4trippn]

Fantastic game by Miller AGAIN. He's taking the team on his back and carrying them when needed. Outstanding.

[sabredan17]

I love Miller and have supreme confidence in him. However, he is a step or two below Lundqvist, he should not have an equivalent contract. I think the Sabres would be wise to extend the term at a lower yearly commitment. Perhaps 7 years, and I don't think he gets above 6 mil.

[ksl66]

I still wouldn't base a Campbell decsion on the basis of paying Miller to the level of Lundqist's contract. Better or worse we've got to live in the present and if the Sabres can lock up a player like Campbell to a multi-year contract this year they need to do it.

Its isn't just Miller its their budget as a whole, what positions are they willing to dedicate a certain percentage of the cap to. They are already almost maxed out up front and they will have to lighten up that load, so say goodbye to Max, Connolly and Kotalik at the end of 08-09. They don't have big money invested on the blue line, Spacek won't likely be brought back at the end of 08-09 because of his age, I don't think Teppo will play another game and Campbell is more than likely gone one way or the other and they could bring tree back but it would be at the same price or very minimal raise (2.5). Millsey is in line for a four million dollar a year raise. I did some math over the summer, the Sabres cap for 09-10, if they kept Miller, Campbell and Pomenville and gave raises to guys like Paillie, Gaustad and Stafford (I had them getting rid of Numminen, Hecht, Spacek, Max Connolly, Kotalik and Kalinin) was going to be close 50 million. There is no way in hell the Sabres can justify almost doubling their pay four years and there is no way they will do that.

So the short response is yes, the Sabres must live in the present and I would love to lock up Campbell, but they also have to make choices because they aren't willing or able pay every one, and I will choose the franchise goalie over the number one d-man every day.

[ksl66]

Just updating my math from the summer and adding in the new deal for Hecht, new deals for MacArthur, Gaustad, Kalinin and Paillie (forthcoming), plus I dumped the contracts of Kotalik and Afinagenov (-5.8) and let Campbell walk in FA, the Sabres would open the 08-09 season with a payroll just under 43 million.

The following year if you stipulate the Lundqvuist contract as Miller's raise, give raises to Pominville, Stafford and let Connolly and Spacek walk, you are looking at about a 46.5 million dollar payroll for 09-10.

Now anyone who says the Sabres are being cheap is just ignorant, they just need find the best way spend their money, they will never spend to the cap as high as it presently is. They will have tough decisions to make every year, first it was Jay Mckee, then it was Briere/Drury now it is Campbell and in the future it might be Pominville. They will not be able to keep everyone. The one thing they do need to do a better job doing is identifying their core players and locking them up when they can dictate the dollars, not when the players can.

[Schony]

Good figuring on the potential salaries...don't disagrre with any of it. My point is still though that we can not count for sure on Miller resigning here at any $$. If he gets to this point next year Detroit will be trolling and will offer big $$ for Ryan to play at home. I'm afraid of getting ourselves into the same Briere/Drury situation where we basically decided to pick Drury over Briere because by the end of the season it was realized we couldn't afford both and ended up with neither because of outside (NYR) considerations. If Campbell is willing to sign here I'd get his name on a contract now and make some of those hard decisions next year.

[scotsho]

6 for $39M is not his price. Keep in mind, if Miller performs at the same level in 08/09 (good but not stand on your head outstanding) - he will far exceed 6 for $39 on the open market in the summer of 2009. The Sabres will have to exceed Lundquist's contract if they want to sign him early next fall. Probably an average of around $7.5M per year. Hopefully the Sabres can afford that.

[GoBillsTom]

Just updating my math from the summer and adding in the new deal for Hecht, new deals for MacArthur, Gaustad, Kalinin and Paillie (forthcoming), plus I dumped the contracts of Kotalik and Afinagenov (-5.8) and let Campbell walk in FA, the Sabres would open the 08-09 season with a payroll just under 43 million.

The following year if you stipulate the Lundqvuist contract as Miller's raise, give raises to Pominville, Stafford and let Connolly and Spacek walk, you are looking at about a 46.5 million dollar payroll for 09-10.

Now anyone who says the Sabres are being cheap is just ignorant, they just need find the best way spend their money, they will never spend to the cap as high as it presently is. They will have tough decisions to make every year, first it was Jay Mckee, then it was Briere/Drury now it is Campbell and in the future it might be Pominville. They will not be able to keep everyone. The one thing they do need to do a better job doing is identifying their core players and locking them up when they can dictate the dollars, not when the players can.

excellent post. my only quibble is that drury/briere wasn't so much a tough decision as a botched one. vanek too, and that is a big chunk of money (we could have kept him for less).

the decisions today would be easier if tom/larry/darcy had a little more foresight going back a season or two.