HockeyIzCool

I seem to recall everybody saying that the first 3 picks were all expected to be NHL ready right off the bat. That although Bedard was the clear #1, both #2 & #3 would normally both be #1 picks in any other year, and that they would likely not need to be sent down. I guess as a Ducks fan, I'm used to embarrassment, but it's really going to stink if Bedard & Fantilli are both on the NHL rosters, and Carlsson plays the season in San Diego.

Not to be gloomy, but by my count, that's 4 former Mighty Ducks/Ducks players that have died at a young age. Ruslan Salei, Todd Ewen, Ray Emery and now Nic. Are there any others I'm forgetting?

OK, that's a bit dramatic. Not to mention, having Zegras last season, didn't much help in keeping us from the worst record in the league, so I doubt in a few months time, his play has improved that dramatically enough it will make a huge difference in where we finish in the standings.

I said the $3-$4M is far too low. And he'll make less per year than those guys because it's a 3 year deal, while those contracts are longer. Has Zegras proven himself to the point of deserving a $25M contract that he'll earn before he turns 25?

So the hourglass was counting down to the start of Training Camp, and now you're turning it to count down to the start of the season. I guess if you have to turn it again, it will count down to the December deadline, after which they are not eligible to play this season.

A 5 year deal is the worst possible outcome, and a 4 year deal is a close 2nd. He'll be UFA after 5 years, so at the end of it, you're potentially screwed. I don't know, it's a tough call. Given that the Ducks are likely to miss the playoffs for at least the next 1-2 seasons, they're really overpaying him until he can help contribute in a meaningful way, beyond reaching 80-90 points and missing the playoffs.

I'm not high on paying Zegras an enormous amount, especially if it's a short term bridge contract. But even I know that $3-$4 Million is pretty much a non-starter. Seems to me that he's worth $5.5 at a Minimum. I would be completely comfortable with something in the $6M area, give or take $0.5M. Above $7M on a bridge deal, is a "bridge" too far IMO. How much money does a 22 year old Zegras need? He's not a superstar at this stage of his career, and he needs work on his 2-way skills. $6M over 3 seasons, gives him $18M in the bank before he reaches age 25. If he proves himself during that time, a 6 year $50-$60 Million deal is a realistic possibility, assuming he's not p&*sed at the Ducks by then.

So supposedly the Ducks are not willing to pay ANYWHERE near $8.5 Million, but they would if another team gave him that offer? That makes no sense. I realize they're just rumors, but if word is going around that the Ducks are offering less than 1/2 that, why would they even consider matching if someone offered him $8.5M? Wouldn't they at least be in the same ballpark at this point?

So if the Ducks were negotiating from a starting point of $5.75, do you think Zegras would take that as an insult? I just don't see him at higher than $7M on a bridge deal, given his performance thus far. Anything higher should be reserved for a longer term deal, where he's committed to the Ducks until his late 20's.

How does Zegras 3 years at 5.75M average & Drysdale 2 years at 2.75M average sound? That gets both of them for 8.5M average. Maybe go a little higher if necessary, but get both of them in for roughly 9M total.

Are you seriously comparing 34 year old All Star Kane with 22 year old Zegras?

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.

He'll need to abuse alcohol for a few years before it would come to that.

Well, that's a pretty low bar, and I'm not sure I'm ready to conclude that he's better at this stage in his career than Terry.

That does seem likely at this point.