Re: NHL 2015, Part 3: Stanley Cup and Offseason
And full meltdown ensues on Chicago's hfBoards page.
Until people found out that he was asking for 6.5 for 6 years.
Magic Bubble Bursts X 3
Inevitable with the salary cap, but still disheartening.
I am forced to agree with your cost/benefit analysis, however.
Gurtholfin said:
Saad is overrated.
Good player with potential but having watched him the past 3 seasons, is invisible a lot of games.
He's a beast in the post season. I disagree. I'm bummed.
Is Saad some sort of defensive force? Because offensively he's like the 12th most dangerous forward on Chicago.
My take is that he was quite valuable as a supporting actor among the top six forwards. He accepted his specific role and performed it well. Hate to see that good chemistry tampered with.
But is he ready to play the leading man? The Blue Jackets must think so; I have my doubts. The Columbus media, FWIW, is calling for celebration.
Quick Tangent: It will be strange and fascinating to have a ringside seat to see how the experiment works out. I'll allow that I hope Saad prospers here. Although the CBJ never really had a chance to supplant my "first love," I do have a secondary rooting interest in them. Certainly it's the team of choice among the neighborhood kids, as it should be. For me personally, the CBJ's move East was a godsend. It's difficult-to-impossible to have a secondary rooting interest when the two teams are in the same division.
But back to the subject at hand. I was caught off-guard by the trade, having bought into the public statements that Saad was part of our long term plan. On the emotional level, I can't help it: I'm disappointed to see him go.
Still, if the alternative was an unmatchable offer sheet and losing the player without compensation, the trade needed to happen. I'll file it away as the lesser of the evils.
The Jackets are going to be a force next season.
) Saad probably is worth $6. Blah.
