Hagel, Van Riemsdyk, Sprong among top the best value contracts in the NHL
Tyler Yaremchuk: Don Sweeney has certainly been right in signing a few of those veterans. James Van Riemsdyk, who was in and out of the lineup the last little bit and probably needed a change of scenery from Philly, goes to Boston and has three goals in three games, making a million bucks. He’s one of those guys on the board that has an incredible value deal. But I want to talk about Brandon Hagel and how dominant he’s been early on. I know the extension doesn’t kick in until next season, but this year is beautiful.
Frank Seravalli: So good isn’t it? I love that Tampa got ahead of it and said ‘hey we think this guy can score at a 40-goal pace,” and he can be in that mix. So they lock him up for $52 million this past summer, given where he was, sort of a late bloomer who has been counted out at various points in his career; it’s an incredible story.
Frank Seravalli: There are so many value guys in the mix this year; James Van Riemsdyk for a million dollars and has three goals in three games. I’ve watched him in Philly over the years and how good he felt and having a chance to talk to him last season on the Frankly Speaking podcast, and he takes very good care of himself. Will it surprise me if he can score 25 goals this year? No. He’s sort of been in that range in goals per game, even though he’s missed time with injuries and his health. I think you could pencil him in there for plus 20, especially if given the proper support. Sean Durzi has been an eye-opener in Arizona, he’s a guy capable of putting up points, as we saw in LA but what’s been crazy to watch in Arizona has been the workload and minutes that Durzi has played. Certainly is no shortage of value contracts out there; Tommy Novak, and Connor Dewar are all guys having strong starts, and you need that going into a fourth consecutive year of a flat cap environment.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Yeah, Tommy Novak was a guy I was going to say. Only 83 games into his NHL career, and he’s popped home 20 goals already. I want to take a second to pick your brain on Daniel Sprong in Detroit who has scored a couple of times now; he’s making a $2 million AAV. He’s been a guy throughout his career who has been at a 20 goal pace but bouncing around spots, and it’s not like he’s overpaid, either.
Frank Seravalli: It’s not even the pay either; last year, he actually did it. In Seattle, he scored 20 goals in 66 games, and then Seattle says “We’re moving on. He wants a raise,” and I just think, why is he always someone who is on the move? Is it work ethic? Is it compete? What drives a coach or, frankly, multiple coaches crazy when you can score 20 goals, and it doesn’t take a lot? You have to take the food with the bad and allow players to just be successful.
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