Back in November I took a look at how the most expensive players of the NHL's Free Agent Class of 2007 were faring at the 20 game point of the season.
Now that we've recently passed the mid-season point of the 2007-08 NHL campaign, here's a look at how they're faring now:
Daniel Briere, Philadelphia Flyers - 2007-08 salary: $10 million. Salary cap hit: $6.5 million.
Previously on pace for: 41 goals, 61 assists, 102 points. Currently on pace for: 32 goals, 49 assists, 89 points.
Scott Gomez, New York Rangers – 2007-08 salary: $10 million. Salary cap hit: $7.357 million.
Previously on pace for: 14 goals, 44 assists, 58 points. Currently on pace for: 18 goals, 57 assists, 75 points.
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo Sabres – 2007-08 salary: $10 million. Salary cap hit: $7.143 million.
Previously on pace for: 21 goals, 36 assists, 57 points. Currently on pace for: 23 goals, 25 assists, 48 points.
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers – 2007-08 salary: $8 million. Salary cap hit: $6.33 million.
Previously on pace for: 10 goals, 38 assists, 48 points. -14 Currently on pace for : 12 goas, 33 assists, 45 points. -2
Ryan Smyth, Colorado Avalanche: - 2007-08 salary: $7.5 million. Salary cap hit: $6.25 million.
Previously on pace for: 21 goals, 28 assists, 50 points. Currently on pace for : 22 goals, 34 assists, 56 points (Currently injured & sidelined until late-February)
Chris Drury, New York Rangers – 2007-08 salary: $7.1 million. Salary cap hit: $7.05 million.
Previously on pace for: 17 goals, 34 assists, 51 points –3. Currently on pace for : 21 goals, 34 assists, 55 points, -21
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings: 2007-08 salary: $6.7 million. Salary cap hit. $6.7 million.
Previously on pace for: 24 goals, 65 assists, 89 points, +38. Currently on pace for: 30 goals, 66 assists, 96 points, +47
Previously on pace for: 12 goals, 43 assists, 55 points, +18 in 67 games. Currently on pace for: 10 goals, 28 assists, 38 points, +22 in 67 games.
Roman Hamrlik, Montreal Canadiens – 2007-08 salary: $5.5 million. Salary cap hit: $5.5 million.
Previously on pace for: 7 goals, 31 assists, 38 points. +24. Currently on pace for: 5 goals, 27 assists, 32 points, +11
Michael Nylander, Washington Capitals – 2007-08 salary: $5.5 million. Salary cap hit: $4.875 million.
Previously on pace for: 20 goals, 52 assists, 72 points, -43 Currently on pace for : sidelined indefinitely, was on pace for 21 goals, 50 assists, 71 points.
Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs – 2007-08 salary: $5.5 million. Salary cap hit: $5.5 million.
Previously on pace for: 39 goals, 59 assists, 98 points, +23. Currently on pace for: 36 goals, 53 assists, 89 points, +20.
Scott Hartnell, Philadelphia Flyers – 2007-08 salary: $5.2 million. Salary cap hit: $4.2 million
Previously on pace for: 11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points, +7. Currently on pace for : 21 goals, 21 assists, 42 points, +16
Gomez and Hartnell are the only 2 who significantly went up. Almost everyone else dropped way low, too low for their contracts. But that's just a prediction if everything is the same, and we all know that doesn't happen in any sport. I hope Sundin goes on a tear and gets over 100 points just so the people in Toronto shut up about him.
Wow, thanks Spector. This list should be sent to every GM in the league as a warning to signing high-priced free agents!! Datsyuk, Briere, Raflaski, JS and Sundin seem to be earning their pay (maybe Markov but I don't see him actually getting 20 goals) but everyone else appear to be overpaid. The Rangers are paying $17 million for Gomez and Drury to score around 40 goals!! Yikes. To say nothing about paying Vanek $10 million for 50 points. Ouch! I know it's early, but signing players prior to hitting the free agent market has to be the way to go (Lidstrom, Iginla) and forget about trying to pickup the "hot" free agent. I look forward to the 60 game update!!
Sharkfan: I don't get it, you want Sundin to tear it up so that people in Toronto will shut up about him? All year, what they've been saying is that with the great year he's been having, he would net a mint for the Leafs if they traded him. If he keeps tearing it up and they still miss the playoffs, then everyone is going to be saying the exact same thing about him, except it will be in the past tense, that they SHOULD HAVE traded him to get some young talent in return.
Anyways, looks like the Red Wings might have done the best with their signings. Both Rafalski and Datsyuk are doing very very well, especially compared to the folks making a few million more than them.
Does anyone else find it strangely ironic that Drury and Briere were priced out of Buffalo, yet they eventually had to pony up a very similar salary to Vanek courtesy of Kevin Lowe? It's looking like they should have put some of that money in their back pocket and let Lowe overpay, but we all know the future is bright for him. One side effect of these offer sheets is clearly the economic bind it puts teams in. Vanek wouldn't even be on this list otherwise. I think it's still too early to tell on a lot of these signings, but whenever you pay older players on previous performance you run the risk of this happening.
why isn't penner on this list? lowe actually got lucky. my calculations show that penner projects out to similar numbers as vanek at a little over 1/2 the price, and a lot fewer picks given up.
Most of the big money FAs haven't been doing well in their new teams. Out of the names presented I gotta say Rafalski has been the one earning his pay. I wish the Ducks got him instead of signing Schneider. Nylander looked like he was earning his pay till the injury.
Last edited by TheStuntman on January 16th at 10:05 PM.
Its too bad its only from 5 mil up....I think the Jason Blake signing was brilliant by the leafs!!!
I honestly hate when a mediocer player only does well on his contract year so he can get a big pay raise...like blake and tucker did. If a player has a "decent" career and then has one good year, odds are he isn't going to be that kind of player all the time....HANDZUS at 4 mill too, wow...he's killing my pool too! Lots of bums out there who were signed just because they only play good when payday is coming and want as much as they can. Love the players like Thorton and Iggy who could have gotten big money but singed for less (even though 7 mill is still big) to be with a good team
Meh, anyone saying Markov doesn't deserve his salary probably never watched a Habs game; he and Kovalev are the reason the Canadiens aren't out of the playofs yet.
Now that Gagne is back from injury, I expect Briere's #'s to start going up. He has been very good this year considering he has has different line mates every game. He will put up 90-100 points this year and earn his paycheck.
Of those Gomez, Hartnell, Datsyuk, Rafalski, Markov, Kariya, Giguere, and Sundin are doing pretty much what was expected of them. Gomez although overpaid is having a good season and what the Rangers expected.
The Sabers definitely had the worst off-season in the NHL. They lost their two leaders - one of which was their best player - and the player they retained isn't even worth HALF of his current salary. Now talks with Campbell, far and away their best defensemen, have slowed and it looks like he may be out of town too.
Hahaha... I'm a Leaf fan and even the above looks pretty pathetic to me.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
