Quote:
Originally Posted by HachiSix
I wouldn't say that is far fetched. Ultimately, it may be a GM decision and not the Sedins. If Sedin production continues to decline, would you sign them to another long-term contract unless they took a sizable pay cut? Wouldn't be much different than parting with Naslund.
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I don't disagree that its a possibility, but a very slim one IMO and certainly not something that will happen with 'little doubt'. For 2 seasons after this one, they will still be elite players. Their next contract will maybe be 3-5 years long to take them to possible retirement, and I am sure their 'decline in ability' will be taken into account both from a management and player persepctive and what the caphit number will be--it will not be higher than it is now especially if it is a longterm deal to take them into retirement. Parting with Naslund was completely different IMO. I see that more as Naslund getting run out of Vancouver and he lost the will to play the game, esp AV's game at that time. Naslund's final years of production would be acceptable at 3-4M/season had the Canucks chosen to even offer him a contract but its clear MG wanted a clean slate.
The Sedins are your franchise players and the face of the Canucks, they have shown they are willing to take a hometown discount and have also shown that they wanted to finish their careers as Canucks prior to MG saying he doesn't do those types of deals (a year before giving Lu his lifetime contract). If given a second chance, I think today's MG signs the Sedins to their 12 year deals
I'm not worried about their production for the next few years. They were both on fire at the beginning of the season, and only fell off the scoring leader list since ~January. Their production potential is still there, they are just not tapping into it right now for whatever reason. There are different reasons you can subscribe to explain this, but IMO I don't think a natural decline in their output ranks up high on that list at this point.