The Hockey News is reporting that Ottawa Senators' restricted free agent Andrej Meszaros has signed an offer sheet worth more than $5 million per season. The team has yet to be disclosed.
If true, the Sens would have the option to match the offer or let Meszaros go and receive compensatory draft picks. The value of the deal will determine just how many picks the Sens would receive and what type they would be.
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My take, if this is true: Bye, bye Andrej!
Meszaros had a promising start to his career but has since dropped off considerably. He clearly has an over-inflated sense of his value and is taking advantage of the Sens' cap and roster situation to try to squeeze out more money.
Coming off a sub-par season, Meszaros should be content to sign a one-year deal and prove himself, but he seems to want the money up front without proving that he deserves it.
Sens GM Brian Murray hinted at Meszaros' uncertain potential today in an article at TSN.ca.
"I think Mez is a potentially good young defenceman who had a bit of an off-year this past year, and we've asked their camp to entertain that in what we're trying to do with him," Murray stated.
The last thing the Sens need is to overpay for a player like Meszaros who has yet to prove he deserves the big money.
I look forward to seeing who the offering team is so I can add them to my hate list.
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2 months ago
I had hoped the Canucks would try to aquire him when it was reported he was far apart in negotiations with Ottawa.
2 months ago
Wow, 5 mill a year for him? Take the picks Ottawa, he is not going to make a difference for you this year as a player, so why not get a few chances at something better in the draft?
2 months ago
wow i hope vancouver is not the one who has offered the offer sheet to andrei. if they lose their 1st, 2nd and 3rd to only overpay for him i'm gonna lose it
2 months ago
Maybe it'll be Toronto. Now Ottawa will get the first overall pick this year haha. Just kidding btw.
I was honestly thinking of writing about this last night when I was surfing TSN at work. The fact that his agent just said "no comment" shows that something could be up.
Meszaros has started to show shades of Alexei Yashin. Except the only difference is that Yashin actually played a big part in Ottawa's rise in the late 90's, while Meszy has only played three season.
If he did sign at another team for three years, I'll quote Spencer: "Bye, bye Andrej". The last thing Ottawa needs is to over-pay for an un-proven player—no matter what his potential is. Take the picks.
2 months ago
Rumours today from Bruce Garrioch at the Ottawa Snu suggest it could be Tampa.
However that rumour, and a shred of Garrioch's cred, have been shot down as league rules require the team making the offer to have all the picks required...and they have to be their original picks, you can't trade for one.
2 months ago
The way he played in his last two seasons I don't think this will affect the Senators as bad as some people think. Nycholat will likely play on the blue-line and Brian Lee will learn the ropes this season. Schubert will probably have to drop back to defense, unless Brendan Bell can manage to work his way into the lineup and contribute offensively. If he can be the player that won CHL defenseman of the year then he can help the Sens' blueline a lot.
2 months ago
Meszaros is trying to compare himself with other young defencemen who have cashed in recently such as Shea Weber, Mike Green, Matt Carle and Brent Seabrook, problem is, he isn't nearly as good or consistent as those guys.
Mez had a great rookie year, playing with Chara, but since Chara's departure his play has dropped off significantly.
If the Sens let him go and take the picks they have $8 mil in cap space to play with, so I'm not worried at all about their depth.
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