In this week’s edition of Hockey Central Ask the Insiders, several fan questions are answered including whether Glen Sather made the right choice in hiring Alain Vigneault and after Evgeni Malkin, which NHLer is next in line for a huge contract.
Jennie asks: Following the eight-year, $76 million extension for Evgeni Malkin, who do you see as the next NHLer in line for a huge deal?
Nick Kypreos: In today’s world it might be easier to answer who’s not in-line for a hug raise! LOL Bobrovsky might have Blue Jackets underwear in a knot with Russia knocking on the door. The scuttle is that the KHL could offer $10 million a year. Wow, how do you turn that down? As far as others, keep an eye on Claude Giroux’s renegotiation in Philly. His pay day will be a beast. Also keep an eye on the draft. Lots of movement I hear because teams are scrambling with the salary cap going down to $64.3 million. The top guys will always get their money but the middle to bottom tier will suffer for it.
Chris Johnston: Look no further than Broadway, where Henrik Lundqvist has already set the tone for negotiations by being non-committal when asked recently if he’s interested in a long-term extension with the New York Rangers. As a pending free agent in 2014, he’s eligible to sign one of those as soon as July 5. Lundqvist currently makes $6.875 million annually — and as arguably the best goaltender in the world, could command $10 million per year on the next one.
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Andrea asks: Did Glen Sather make the right choice in naming Alain Vigneault head coach? What impact will it have no Mark Messier’s future with the Rangers?
Nick Kypreos: Time will tell Andrea if he made the right decision. I think Glen Sather made the safe decision in Vigneault. Experience in Alain vs. no NHL coaching experience in Messier. That’s what it came down to. Look, I like Alain and the way he carries himself. He’s had good control of his bench and has shown on occasion not to take himself too seriously. Not like some who think they invented the game. The one knock Rangers fans may have with Alain is he’s missing the recipe for success while Messier has been part of six recipes for Stanley Cup success. Presidents trophies are nice but hardly qualify you as a coach that is a proven winner. Even Keenan when hired had international success beating strong Soviet teams for world supremacy at both the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups. Alain may prove Rangers fans wrong here but until they see a Cup back in New York, they’ll still buy into the theory safety seldom leads to greatness.
Doug MacLean: Andrea, I think Glen Sather had two choices in Vigneault or Lindy Ruff. With all due respect to Mark Messier, I think the fact he has no coaching experience was a gamble Glen couldn’t take. I would like to see him become an associate coach there or somewhere else if he really wants to become a head coach.
Jeff Marek: Yes, absolutely. He’s the polar opposite of John Tortorella, whose act had worn thin with many key players on that Rangers squad. Vigneault is friendly, affable and a player’s coach, which will be a breath of fresh air for many Rangers players who felt Torts made everything about himself. The Vancouver bench boss is nothing like Tortorella in that regard. As for Messier, that’s an interesting question – it seems obvious now that his choice is to coach in the NHL and many feel it will be difficult to go back to his position with the Rangers (and work above someone who beat him out for a job he wanted) considering it brings him no closer to running a team behind the bench.
David asks: How realistic is it for the Penguins to extend Kris Letang with the dollars already committed to Malkin and Crosby? Do you see him being traded like Jordan Staal?
Doug MacLean: David, I think it’s a no-brainer they will get Letang done on a long term deal. After this year the cap will once again begin to rise and they will find a way to make it all fit. They have four good young prospects on the blue line turning pro and that will ease cap issues in their early years.
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Chris Johnston: The Letang contract issue is definitely lingering for Penguins GM Ray Shero and he’ll likely have to make a decision this summer. Extend him or trade him? My gut tells me that Shero is going to at least entertain offers for the defenceman, who would command a huge price in a trade. It might be the best way to keep his team under the salary cap, but it would be an awfully tough move to make.
Michelle asks: Is there any truth to the rumours that the Flames are looking for a new team president? Would they have the power to fire Jay Feaster?
Scott Morrison: There have been reports, including one by our own John Shannon that the Flames may be considering hiring a president of hockey operations, a position similar to what John Davidson has in Columbus. It was also reported that NHL VP Brendan Shanahan met with the Flames brass a few days ago. Presumably, whoever takes that job would have the power to fire the GM if they so desired.
Tyler asks: Who gets the bigger contract after winning their NHL award — P.K. Subban or Sergei Bobrovsky?
Jeff Marek: Well, the rumour is Bobrovsky has a cool $10 million, one-year deal waiting for him in the KHL and Subban’s not going to come near that number. BUT, for purposes of an NHL contract, I think Subban’s deal will be sweeter. The talk around goalie Bob is he could fetch as high as $5 million preseason. Ok, nice number. But last summer the Habs could have signed P.K. Subban for $5 million x five years but with a Norris Trophy in his hip pocket now, that ship has probably sailed.
Chris Johnston: Great question. P.K.’s payday will be the biggest — unless Bobrovsky follows through on his threat to return home and signs in the KHL. The Habs held firm during Subban’s contract standoff at the start of the season, but they’re going to have to open their wallets now. With aging defencemen (Sergei Gonchar and Mark Streit) now signing for $5-million or more, you can bet Subban’s deal will come in higher than that.
Patrick asks: If you’re a betting man, do you see the Coyotes in Phoenix, another city or contracted by the time training camp opens in September?
Scott Morrison: I would bet the Coyotes will be in Phoenix for another season. The NHL has applied the heat to the city council and there appears to be some level of ownership interest sniffing around.
Jeff Marek: With the Coyotes, NOTHING would surprise me at this point. Any of those three options could happen and I wouldn’t be shocked. But, I still see the Coyotes staying in Phoenix.