Tim Connolly: to re-sign or not to re-sign
Posted 11:36 AM ET | Comments 8
Does Tim Connolly deserve a contract extension? I am pretty sure that there are few Sabres fans that believe Timmy is worth the $4,500,000 we are paying him for his 36 pts this season. So if he is not worth that much money how much is he worth? Using player stats collected before last nights games I compared other centers in the league that have within 7pts(20%) of Connolly and are within 10gp of his 61. Here they are with salaries: (I excluded 2 entry level contracts)
Sam Gagner 68gp 42pts $2,275,000
David Legwand 58gp 41pts $4,500,000
Saku Koivu 69gp 41pts $2,500,000
Matt Cullen 71gp 38pts $3,500,000
Valterri Filppula 65gp 37pts $3,000,000
Dave Bolland 61gp 37pts $3,375,000
Jiri Hudler 68gp 36pts $2,875,000
Nik Antropov 69gp 35pts $4,062,500
Pierre-Marc Bouchard 52gp 31pts $4,080,000
Matt Stajan 71gp 31pts $3,500,000
Jason Arnott 69gp 29pts $4,500,000
Jochen Hecht 66gp 28pts $3,525,000
Tim Connolly 61gp 35pts $4,500,000
In this collection of players Tim Connolly is tied for the highest paid but it seems not as highly overpaid at first thought. The average of these players contracts comes in at $3,207,115. Does this mean we should resign Connolly at a heavily discounted rate between 3-3.5 mil. I believe that this would probably be the best move for the Sabres next year. The chances of signing a bona fide #1 center in the offseason is slim and if possible would mean cuts at every other position, possibly even having trouble signing Stafford to his deserved raise. With a healthy Roy as #1 hopefully playing like he did in the first 35 games of this year Connolly would be a solid #2. Maybe he can even increase his production next year with a healthy Roy taking some pressure and top defenders off of him.
I believe Connolly should be a part of this teams future if he can accept the fact that he will have to take a pay cut. With our young players emerging and a healthy Roy this team should be fighting for the top spot in the division next year. Things are not nearly as bleak as Sabres fans make them out to be. We just have to accept that Connolly will never be the #1 center that people wanted him to be. What do you think we should do with Tim Connolly?
P.S. Suggestions are welcome for future blogs. What do you want broken down? Currently working on best playoff goalies over the past 4 seasons.
Airtsabes
Sam Gagner 68gp 42pts $2,275,000
David Legwand 58gp 41pts $4,500,000
Saku Koivu 69gp 41pts $2,500,000
Matt Cullen 71gp 38pts $3,500,000
Valterri Filppula 65gp 37pts $3,000,000
Dave Bolland 61gp 37pts $3,375,000
Jiri Hudler 68gp 36pts $2,875,000
Nik Antropov 69gp 35pts $4,062,500
Pierre-Marc Bouchard 52gp 31pts $4,080,000
Matt Stajan 71gp 31pts $3,500,000
Jason Arnott 69gp 29pts $4,500,000
Jochen Hecht 66gp 28pts $3,525,000
Tim Connolly 61gp 35pts $4,500,000
In this collection of players Tim Connolly is tied for the highest paid but it seems not as highly overpaid at first thought. The average of these players contracts comes in at $3,207,115. Does this mean we should resign Connolly at a heavily discounted rate between 3-3.5 mil. I believe that this would probably be the best move for the Sabres next year. The chances of signing a bona fide #1 center in the offseason is slim and if possible would mean cuts at every other position, possibly even having trouble signing Stafford to his deserved raise. With a healthy Roy as #1 hopefully playing like he did in the first 35 games of this year Connolly would be a solid #2. Maybe he can even increase his production next year with a healthy Roy taking some pressure and top defenders off of him.
I believe Connolly should be a part of this teams future if he can accept the fact that he will have to take a pay cut. With our young players emerging and a healthy Roy this team should be fighting for the top spot in the division next year. Things are not nearly as bleak as Sabres fans make them out to be. We just have to accept that Connolly will never be the #1 center that people wanted him to be. What do you think we should do with Tim Connolly?
P.S. Suggestions are welcome for future blogs. What do you want broken down? Currently working on best playoff goalies over the past 4 seasons.
Airtsabes
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Blog Archive
10 Who's the best? Points per minute played 2007-8
10 Predictions - better late than never
15 Does it matter who scores?
17 What does it take to make the playoffs?
20 Sabres week 1 report
22 Player Power Rankings - Who is Hot?
24 If the playoffs started today. Pre-premature playoff picks
27 Sabres week 2 report.
27 Defensive liabilities?
29 Who's the best defenseman? (Through 9 games)
30 Sabres / Lightning preview
10 Predictions - better late than never
15 Does it matter who scores?
17 What does it take to make the playoffs?
20 Sabres week 1 report
22 Player Power Rankings - Who is Hot?
24 If the playoffs started today. Pre-premature playoff picks
27 Sabres week 2 report.
27 Defensive liabilities?
29 Who's the best defenseman? (Through 9 games)
30 Sabres / Lightning preview
03 Sabres week 3 report:
04 100 point scorers!
06 Does Kotalik deserve an extension?
07 Goal scoring and the most exciting teams since the lockout.
10 Sabres week 4 report:
12 Sabres vs. Blues and Garth, where are you?
13 Who wins the Stanley Cup?
17 Sabres
24 Sabres week 6 report
04 100 point scorers!
06 Does Kotalik deserve an extension?
07 Goal scoring and the most exciting teams since the lockout.
10 Sabres week 4 report:
12 Sabres vs. Blues and Garth, where are you?
13 Who wins the Stanley Cup?
17 Sabres
24 Sabres week 6 report
01 Sabres week 7 report!
03 Spend to the cap to make the playoffs?
05 Sabres, who should stay and who should go?
09 Sabres week 8 plus 1 report:
10 Sabres New Season recap:
18 Sabres: Where do they stand?
03 Spend to the cap to make the playoffs?
05 Sabres, who should stay and who should go?
09 Sabres week 8 plus 1 report:
10 Sabres New Season recap:
18 Sabres: Where do they stand?
i've wrestled with this one. personally, if we can sign a whale of a center (malkin, lecavalier, richards, etc) then i'd be okay with connolly as a 2nd line center, if and only if, we can trade roy as part of a package for an elite defenseman (like shea weber or someone mean and awesome, i did say elite!)either way, the hope is that this off-season is really fun for a change and we get/retain the great ones, and thin the herd of those that aren't being helpful to our cup quest.
I havent seen many sabres games but if he is also defensively responsible with the puck and can consistently put up those #'s i think its a good contract. If he is only good offensively then i would say more like 3.5 mil. Thanks for the working on that playoff goalie blog bc im curious!
dont resign timmy, hes a toolbag.
I would resign him if I could pay 2 million or less, as he is a very good PK'er and would be a good third center.
resign him
i'm okey with re-signing him..but ONLY if its for 1yr and less than $3.5m while ALSO signing a LEGIT Top 6 Center...i'm done counting on him in the top 6, but as a 3C/penalty kill guy, fine.