DOES GAGNE HAVE A BIT OF CARTER SYNDROME?
Gagne is a good player no doubt. But there is something that should be taken into consideration as far as his contract status is concerned.
According to TSN:
Earlier in the off-season, another Bob Sauve client, Alex Tanguay inked a three-year deal with the Calgary Flames with an average yearly salary of $5.25 million.
Gagne is reportedly asking for $5 million to $6 million a year.
Is Gagne worth that much? Sure, he is worth it from last year's 42 goal-79 points totals. But Gagne never had a great season before Peter Forsberg arrived. In fact, he was getting worse. Here are the numbers from the Internet Hockey Database (bless their hearts)
1999-00 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 80 GP 20 28 48 PTS
2000-01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 69 27 32 59
2001-02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 33 33 66
2002-03 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 46 9 18 27
2003-04 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 80 24 21 45
2005-06 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 72 47 32 79
These stats are not that stellar prior to 05-06. His playoff stats are not much higher.
So IF Bobby Clarke was perhaps taking this into consideration, then you can't blame him for stalling the negotiations and putting his foot down.
For the record, Tanguay has 400 points in 450 games, Gagne has 324 in 426 games. Why pay a player an inflated amount for ONE great season? I think a pylon could score 40 next to Forsberg, and that pylon could be named Kyle Calder this season. I think Gagne is overrated. He's Anson Carter material or just a bit more. There I said it. If I were Clarke I'd let him sit out or trade him ASAP, if there is any team willing to pay this punk what he wants.
5 Comments:
I think a pylon could score 40 next to Forsberg, and that pylon could be named Kyle Calder this season.
I agree with you 100%.
If I were Clarke I'd let him sit out or trade him ASAP, if there is any team willing to pay this punk what he wants.
Eventually this madness has to come to an end. GM's are going to have to stand firm and let the players rot. Gagne will have no one to blame but himself if he ain't playing come October.
Gagne should make more than Andy McDonald ($3.33 M), but not a whole lot more. Both those guys are pretty linemate-dependent.
Generally speaking, I don't believe Gagne is overrated inasmuch as he has overpriced himself. That is the nature of the negotiating process. What we are not hearing is whether Gagne is willing to take less short term. Clarke likely wants to lock him in for a few years. My feeling is he should be paid like a 35 goal scorer for another two. It is in the job description, almost, of an agent to maximize a career year isn't it.
A while back I posted a trade scenario for Habs fans who clamoured for a Gagne trade, not rumoured, and received the usual over rated reply in Gagne's case. I was a bit surprised no one saw it as I did at the time. Link to it is:
http://wwwrealitycheckeyesontheprize.blogspot.com/2006/08/would-you-pull-trigger-on-this-deal.html#links
I don't think Gagne will take much less. He has proven that in the past hasn't he?
I think Gagne is over rated more so in people's eyes
Oh yeah, I can see the agent's agenda to maximize a career year, but in the new NHL, this shit isn't going to fly for long. Teams are not going to pay a 'flash in the pan' an inflated price when there is a cap. At least not the smart teams. Especially not at this time of year when they've spent enough already.
Wasn't he the guy that started playing D during the '04 playoffs because the Flyers were down to two or three regulars? Doesn't seem right on the surface, but I can't think of who else it could have been offhand.
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