Hard to Argue
by BReynolds on Dec 7, 2009 11:48 AM CST
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PrintFrom Puck Stops Here over at Kukla's Korner:
It is far enough into the season to begin to look at the free agent signings made this summer. One stands out as being a complete failure so far. Martin Havlat left the Chicago Blackhawks to sign with the Minnesota Wild. He signed a five year contract worth $30 million. He was intended as a replacement for NHL goal scoring leader Marian Gaborik, who had jumped to the New York Rangers, but it has not worked out that way.
They make their case with stats on the main post, so go read it. It's short, check it out. Just keep these two things in mind while reading. Martin Skoula has 3 Goals and 5 Assists in 21 games. Kurtis Foster has 3 Goals and 3 Assists in 18 games. Havlat has 2 Goals and 9 Assists in 22 games. So, Havlat is on par, production wise, with Skoula. And only slightly better than Foster.
That fact that Havlat is a candidate for worst signing would be a difficult point to argue. Havlat is clearly a disappointment here in Minnesota. Gaborik is ripping apart the East, as even the largest skeptic (me) would have predicted. Lats, Ebbett, and Kobasew have made a much larger impression on this team than Havlat has, and they have far less expectation.
Can anyone think of another free agent signing, across the entire league, that has been a bigger flop than this one thus far? For the sake of our own sanity... anyone? Please?
Mike Komisarek as KiPA suggested over at Hitting the Post (look at Montreal)? Khabibulin in Edmonton as KiPA suggests in another post? Those two are pretty bad. I don't think Brian Burke brought in Komisarek thinking he was going to save the team or be the team leader in points, as was expected for Havlat for the Wild.
Khabibulin is an interesting thought, as their entire season plan hinged on him, and he has now been hurt and completely unhelpful even when healthy. Goaltenders also take more than their fair share of the blame when a team struggles, though, so maybe the Oilers just aren't all that good (says the guy writing about the team in last place in the division).
So, anyone have any other suggestions? Worst free agent signing thus far?
-Buddha
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contract
Kukla’s Korner have the contract details incorrect. Havlat signed a 6 year deal for 5 million a season.
I also think Havlat has been a bust since he doesnt have a shooter on his line. He is a playmaker not a goal scorer. People need to remember that.
Ah yes.
I did not even notice that. Thanks for pointing that out. I let the author of the original post know.
http://www.hockeywilderness.com
Ho Hum
Another Havlat is terrible post-How interesting and original
Thank you.
It was not meant as another Havlat is terrible post. Although, right now, he is.
Do people read blogs just to complain? Or does no one seem to see the questions at the bottom of the post? The post was intended to begin a conversation about who is the worst off season signing. Perhaps it is Havlat, perhaps not. It is, as the title suggests, hard to argue that he isn’t.
So I ask you this. Do you have any thing new and original to offer, or just a complaint? Both are more than welcome here, but I would prefer some kind of substantive contribution.
http://www.hockeywilderness.com
You're right, hard to argue
Komisarek was brought in to provide some toughness to Toronto’s blue line and make things difficult on opposing forwards. So far, all he’s pretty much done is get caught out of position constantly and take undisciplined penalties that lead to power play goals.
In terms of intended impact, Havlat was brought in to provide some offense, and, well…
Havlat’s basically pulled ahead of Komisarek now. I can’t think of too many other big signings who have bombed thus far. I could throw out some other names (Saku Koivu, Hal Gill, Alexei Kovalev) but none of those was intended to be their team’s top-line player for as long-term as Havlat is.
He has the talent...Just something is missing
Havlat has not proven he is worth the cash the Wild signed him to this past summer while wearing a Wild sweater…Yet
He showed everyone in Chicago that, when healthy, he is a point machine (2008-2009 season he lead the Blackhawks, with Kane and Toews playing in 80+ games, in points with 77) so you really can’t blame the Wild jumping at the opportunity to sign such an offensive threat to “replace” Marion Gaborik. The downside to being Gaborik’s replacement? Everyone wants, and most expect, him to put up the same goal numbers as Gabby in New York. That will just never happen. Havlat is as pure a playmaker as they come, always looking for the perfect pass as opposed to the perfect shot.
Biggest bust so far this season, yeah, I suppose. With Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Mike Komisarek, and Khabibulin right there with him. I really want to think, with the right line, and continued power play time, Martin Havlat can turn his season around. Just don’t expect last year’s numbers, or Gabby’s goal totals.
relax
It’s still a work in progress, Burns looked like crap lwhen he plaed too. there are a lot of role and system adjustments going on still. If you don’t want to buy in, leave those excell seats empty and let the real fans buyem up. Havlat is not e3xpected to be “the franchise” player, we already had that guy in Mikko. Martin just needs to r3ealiz that he needs to play his game and not tryto be a savior. He’ll figure it out, just give him some time.
Give it time
I remember a year ago today we were praising Miettinen as a 25 goal scorer. He seemed to have slowed down a little bit. I’m not ready to write off Havlat as a bust . He may turn out to be, but 29 games into the season is a little eager.
by PinkiePinkerton on Dec 8, 2009 12:57 PM CST reply actions
Other Free-Agent Flops
Martin Biron could be considered a flop after going 2-8-2, which has allowed Dwayne Roloson to take the starting reigns, but he’s only a one-year, 1.4 million dollar deal, so it’s easier to digest than Havlat.
Dustin Penner has been a pretty big flop for the Oilers, especially considering the $4.25 million he makes every year.
Alexi Kovalev is being paid $5 million per year in Ottawa and has similar numbers to Havlat, so he should be considered in this flop category.
Chris Higgins for the Rangers is pretty flop-worthy, but at a cheaper price.
I’m going to tentatively say Nic Antropov. I know he has 21 assists, but the guy only has 2 goals and is making $3.5 million. If he wasn’t playing with Kovalchuk, his numbers would be worse. Plus, Antropov starts hot and then disappears down the stretch when it’s important.
Personally, I think once Sykora can shake the concussions and get used to the team, he and Havlat will fall in love with each other. Sykora wants to shoot, and Havlat wants to pass. If the Wild can get both guys together healthy, then the team has the makings of a 1-1a situations between the top two lines. Given the energy that Ebbett brings or the speed that Belanger has, I think Havlat can right the ship.
And as some of you have already pointed out, Havlat is not Gaborik. Gaborik maxed out at 42 goals while playing a trap system. He’s a premier goal scorer. There are very few hockey players like him. I understand the desire to compare Havlat to Gaborik, but that seems fairly useless. People don’t compare Joe Thornton to Alex Ovechkin, since one is a passer and one is a goal scorer. Give Havlat a pure shooter and I’ll bet his numbers turn around.
Not Penner now
Penner was absolutely a flop the past few seasons but he’s living up to his contract now.
Some of the other names you’ve mentioned belong on the list of “bad free agent signings” but Havlat tops them all because his contract is the biggest and because of the role he was supposed to play. OK, Koivu may be the franchise guy, but Havlat isn’t making $5 million a year to play the third line. Guys like Higgins and Biron have been pretty awful but they’re not taking up 10% of the team’s cap hit nor were expected to get the team over the hump or replace as key a player as Gaborik.
Antropov doesn’t belong on the list. Yes, he has only two goals, and yes, his numbers would be lower if he didn’t play with Kovalchuk. But they signed him because they have Kovalchuk, and he doesn’t need to score if he keeps setting up Kovalchuk and a rejuvenated Maxim Afinogenov 70-75 times a year. If he disappears down the stretch, we can re-analyze things.
Kovalev is definitely in the discussion. Ottawa still had top-line guys in Spezza and Alfredsson so Kovalev shouldn’t have been expected to be the top dog, though maybe he is with the trade of Heatley.
… And as I write this, Kovalev just took a penalty to kill the rest of an Ottawa power play with the Sens trailing by one with under eight minutes to play. So Kovalev is adding to his “bust” resume.
If it ended today, Havlat would probably be the worst signing. But as several people have pointed out, there’s a long way to go, so there’s time for things to change.
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