Joined: Jul. 2018
Posts: 349
Likes: 246
That is a lot of assets and a big gamble of a deal on this player.
$5M, or more importantly, 6% of your cap space always seems like a weird amount. If the player is a bonafide top 6 guy, it's probably a steal, if not, it's an overpay. Centers are a bit of the exception, as I can see merit in having a third line center paid more than a typical bottom six forward, but that's usually accompanied by a team playing a good complimentary winger in their top 6, who is making far less than typical top 6 players, which helps offset the cost.
I like Pageau, but I think he just got paid as if he's a 25 goal scoring center. He likely isn't. This year, he's been force fed insane amounts of minutes, and he's scoring on an absurdly high percentage of his shots. He isn't creating near enough offense to make anyone believe this is just who he is now. Also, I am never a fan of giving a player you expect to play in your bottom six a term longer than 4 years. It's not just about age, but a 6 year term is very inflexible in terms of shaking things up if things don't work out. If Pageau isn't everything the Isles hope he is, that cap hit with that 6 year term becomes an anchor. The problem is, they are essentially paying him as if he is going to play at his ceiling for the next 6 years, and I think that's a tall ask.