Off by 1. Could not reply in the closed thread so I pick up here your calling me out about Hagel. Pretty easy o make oneself look smart what a guy has a good game. I would invite you and the others that could have an open mind to reflect back. Hagel had 1 goal in March the whole month, month here the team was pushing to make the playoffs, thankfully Kuch Point and Stammer put them over the top. Then let’s look at the month of December well I’m sure there was area on Hagel did not have a single goal in Decpart of a streak that started in November where he had 17 games in a row without a goal. Know who else does this Anthony Cirelli. Other than take a superficial look into this game or that game dive into the game logs. Both Hagel and Cirelli ave periods of a few games where they score many of them mutiple point games. That in itself does not justify a position on THIS TEAM. A roster that has 57.55 million in salary tied up in 7 players. That’s 65.71% of the so for next year at Bettmans projection of 87.7 mil cap a number that is not set in stone yet. Well what does that mean? First off it does not include resigning Stamkos. It presents 15 players needed for a 22 man roster much less the 23 a team can carry. This number leaves 29 mil for the remaining 15 or 16 guys to fight for crumbs. Or about 1.9 mil per for 15 spots. We have seen in this past season what 2 mil or less buys you and that does not even take into consideration brainfarts like Sheary or Jeanott who should be league minimum guys.
Now what’s the solution ? With all the movement clauses I can’t see a path to return a cup competitive situation for a few years. I don’t see a path to signing Stammer a huge mistake just from a leadership point.
I get it Hagel is not a bad player at all but in the current team situation more is needed from him. Consistency the main thing he has very few games that he made the game deciding difference. Now do I expect him to be Kuch or Point or Stamkos in carrying the team like that ? No but at some point those players will have to be replaced. II can hear rebuttal now Hagel is young will Point was young too when he was making a difference. A point can be made that Paul has been better in important situations than Hagel when the game is on the line, and this does not just consider game winning goals which are misleading at times like when a guy has the game winning goal in a 3 goal victory. Sure sure sure his pay raise does not start until next season and at his lower salary point he has been a bargain. Question is can and will he up his production which is why he got a raise right…… maybe I hope so. But then again how many years have we waited on Cirelli to step it up? Or Druion or this guy or that guy. lol we can go by us trends. And even if he had mid 20 goal production last two years here we will see next season with a Stammerless team. Hagel will be the odd man out of the top line and need to carry the 2nd. There is no way in hell Point and Kuch are separated. Here is what I expect to see before Gagel new contract is over he will be as beat up as Johnny was . Again I hope I’m wrong and he turns into a star.
But here is one great thing at least we do not have 40 mil in 4 players like the Leafs that city and team are imploding. Take a few minutes and watch the Chris Johnston show. From the weekend after the Leafs went down 3-1.
Yes, I was making light of your ongoing fixation and ever increasing expectations of Hagel - the latest apparently being he doesn't score consistently enough, because he had some lengthy dry spells over the season? A season in which he had a career year points wise?
I'm going rest my case (because this is beyond tedious at this point) with the following:
Hagel was 8th overall in even strength scoring. He had more even strength points than Leon Draisaitl, Miko Rantanen, Filip Forsbeg, William Nylander, JT Miller, Brayden Point, Mitch Marner and Matthew Tkachuk. All of those guys have a 2 mil or more higher cap hit than Hagel.
He also tied Sam Reinhart, JT Miller and Jake Guentzel in even strength goals. Carter VH and Wil Nylander managed just one more ES goal than Hagel.