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People Should Stop Talking


As I've said before, I don't consider myself a hockey expert.  I'm just here to provide what I think I see, and hopefully in an entertaining way.  But I've heard way too much talk about how Versteeg and Barker especially were given contracts out of whack for what they're worth.  A quick perusal of the defenseman who also finished around the 40-point mark and what they are currently paid:

Filip Kuba- 3.7 million

Bryan McCabe- 5.7

John Michael Liles- 4.2

Pavel Kubina- 5.0

Ron Hainsey - 4.5

Joe Corvo-2.6 and many beaten wives

Christian Ehrhoff- 3.1

Now, obviously, Barker is a different type of player than most of these, and younger than all of them.  He's more all-around than McCabe (so am I) and Corvo, and probably Kuba.  So Liles and Ehrhoff are fair comparisons, as they're big, two-way d-men, and Liles even can QB a power play, and both in their 20's.  And Barker comes in at exactly that value.  Now, you could make the argument that if there hadn't been all these shenanigans, with his RFA status you could have played hardball and brought him in at a lower number.  But maybe Barker wasn't going to accept a lower number, and then you'd have to deal him at 75-50 cents on the dollar.  It's happened before.  Considering Barker's age, this is a pretty good deal.

Versteeg is another matter, and it's hard to be as accurate with him because it's hard to see what his ceiling is.  Most, like me, think he may have reached it.  But scouring the players who put up similiar numbers as VERSTEEG!, which you can be sure his agent did, here's what we come up with:

Shawn Horcoff - 5.6

Ryan Clowe 3.6

Alex Burrows -2.0

Brooks Laich- 2.0

Chris Kunitz -3.7

Dustin Brown - 3.1

Michael Ryder -4.0

Milan Michalek- 4.3

Now, most of these players are better than Kris (oh if only he were Dustin Brown).  The closest comparison I think we find here is Michalek, a young forward, though with more size than Steeger.  Michalek has three 20 goal seasons to his name, but I don't see any reason why Versteeg wouldn't be consistently cracking the 20 goal plateau, which is probably all he is.  Michalek, however, usually finds himself on Thornton's or Marleau's wing, even Pavelski is a better offensive center than Steeg found himself playing with, when he was paired with either the out of position Sharp, at center himself, and then the defensive Pahlsson.  So while not the bargain I think Barker's deal will turn out to be, and maybe even a tad pricey, it's hardly scandalous. 

And he's probably getting moved anyway...

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments |

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Barker got fair value

I almost wish the length was longer. He will certainly prove his worth the next few years.

by Hawk is God on Jul 10, 2009 1:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

It's strange

That almost no one noticed what Barker did for us last season. IMO, on a nightly basis, I believe Barker > Campbell, at least as an all-around defenseman. His contract is a great one for us.

by illinikc33 on Jul 10, 2009 7:44 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

agreed

and as I mentioned in my post a few days ago on the versteeg vs. barker discussion……..if he can develop some polish in his own zone and a little bit of a mean streak, we’ll really have something with barker.

"If you're scared, go buy a dog" - Stacey King

by hackerar on Jul 10, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

seemed like the only d man

that consistently put a shot on net from the blue line

"...but the devil lives inside this kid, I swear it. It rises out of him in a mist, this baby-faced defiant wrathful version of Pat Kane, escapes his bodily confines to perform satanic miracles all over the offensive zone. The only thing more fearsome than that assist was the keep-in preceding it. The only thing more unholy than his face is his black magic." GMH

by Illini0509 on Jul 10, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wel...

Barker got a fair deal. A couple teams would have given him more. Versteeg just got lucky with this whole debacle. With the exception of Burrows, all of those players are much better than him. Michalek? I wish he was like Michalek, because Milan is physical, and good in his own zone. Without the puck, Versteeg engages in Jibbry style oinkery what make no since atall.

by The Admiral on Jul 10, 2009 8:50 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Jibbry style oinkery

Pure Gold

The past is for cowards and fools....

by mdiddy on Jul 10, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

McCabe… * shakes head *

To think some people, including me, thought he was a good player. The end of the lockout led to his signature “move”, the can-opener, being a penalty, and after that he went way, way downhill. I hope he saved his money well with this contract, ‘cause he ain’t never gonna get close to $5.7M per again.

I like Barker, by the way. Think you guys got a good one there.

Being a Leaf fan here requires one to be sufficiently lubricated... and truculent!

by stucky on Jul 10, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Arturo Gatti (1972-2009)

Off topic but today was definitely a tragic day in the boxing world especially here in Canada. Today we all lost one of the last true warriors inside the ring for Gatti was just that-a warrior. His trilogy of fights against Mickey Ward were stuff made of legends just 2 guys going round after rounds just pummeling each other yet had the upmost respect for each other. Classic! A champion forever and will forever be missed.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Jul 11, 2009 4:28 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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