Reason #1,334,354 to Ignore Eklund

by Jonathan Willis on May 6, 2008 12:59 PM MDT

This is UFA defenceman Mark Streit. He's been credited this season as the catalyst to Montreal's potent powerplay.

He's an interesting player, largely because when not on the powerplay he generally plays as a 4th line forward. Defensively, he's a mess. He's been just awful (outside of offence) and a good friend of mine who is also a Habs fan tells me that Patrice Brisebois is better in his own end. This same friend feels that Brisebois ought to be on his way to the glue factory, so suffice to say that Streit's defensive game is pretty ugly.

With this in mind, read a "rumour", courtesy of anonymous blogger "Eklund", of hockeybuzz.com:

The general belief out there is that Brian Campbell is going to get at least 6 million per this summer. So how much is Streit worth, and how much of a home town discount is he willing to give?
All I know is that there are teams out there that may give him 5 per in this UFA market that is light on IMPACT guys but glistening with difference makers...I do believe that the Rangers, Sabres and Oilers may all be willing to top 5.

That's 5-million dollars, everyone. Eklund expects (rated E2) readers to believe that the Oilers are prepared to offer more than 5mil/season to a guy who makes Sheldon Souray look like a perennial Norris candidate. This, after signing Tom Gilbert to a 6-yr, 24million dollar contract.

I can make up better rumours in my sleep. So can Maggie, from TSN. This guy is so disreputable that hockey forums look down their nose at him (even if Sportsnet doesn't).

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I got the e-mail from Eklund blabbering about Streit, and I have the same reaction. I love him to death, and would even like to see him signed 3 years/3.5-4m per, but Eklund has clearly spent very little time watching him and understanding his role. Any GM that spends 5M on this guy is shooting his team in the foot. Honestly, I could make a 4 minute YouTube video of nothing but forwards beating him to the outside. He's valuable, but not 5M valuable.

Despite this amazing surge in Eklund popularity over the last year or two, he rarely writes anything useful to hockey minded people. Most of it is sentimental, opinions, or the most frustrating, things we already know.

I always get a kick when Eklund writes Montreal rumors, particularly when he says players are being traded out - Bob Gainey doesn't just hold his cards to the vest, he buries them underneath the table. He doesn't exactly make small chat with the hot dog vendors at the Bell Center about shopping Koivu for Marleau, so I am very curious where his sources get this information.

Whatever motivates people to cruise Hockeybuzz on their lunch hour, I guess.

by Cams Habs on May 6, 2008 6:05 PM MDT reply actions

I picked Streit in my hockey pool this year for the very reason he seemed the favourite to take Souray's minutes on Montreal's outstanding powerplay. Not so much catalyst as converter. Score one for me ... or if you prefer, score 62 for me.

Like Souray, however, he's 30 years old after his career season, and as a UFA is almost certain to do less well in almost any other situation than the one he's (possibly) leaving. He's a leading candidate to be a serious overpay.

by Bruce on May 6, 2008 6:18 PM MDT reply actions

He's a leading candidate to be a serious overpay.

But not a 5M overpay- right? I mean, 62 points or not, this guy couldn't possibly be worth 5 million.

by Jonathan Willis on May 6, 2008 6:22 PM MDT reply actions

But not a 5M overpay- right? I mean, 62 points or not, this guy couldn't possibly be worth 5 million.

-Puts up big numbers - primarily on the PP,
-Has only had one good/breakout year,
-Seemingly skates in mud in the defensive end.

This sounds like a certain Oilers defensemen that was signed for 5M. Was Shelly worth that much? I don't remember the initial reaction from Mackenzie and Dreger and such, but I can't imagine they thought this was a great signing. Regardless, someone will likely fork 4+ for this guy. I'd love to see him stay in Habs land, but I don't imagine he'll take the discount when faced with large contract offers (which will be there).

Eklund is right about one thing - he will get an oversized offer. The difference of opinion is, of course, he is not worth it at all.

Bruce hit the nail on the head - This screams overpay come July, as he is a safe bet to not produce like he has this year.

by Cams Habs on May 6, 2008 10:29 PM MDT reply actions

-Puts up big numbers - primarily on the PP,
-Has only had one good/breakout year,
-Seemingly skates in mud in the defensive end.

This sounds like a certain Oilers defensemen that was signed for 5M. Was Shelly worth that much?

Of course Souray wasn't, but at least in Souray's case you can make the argument that he understands defensive zone coverage, he just doesn't skate well enough 5-on-5 to be as effective as he should be (although Staples at Cult of Hockey has some interesting stats that disagree with this). At least Souray's also effective 4-on-5.

by Jonathan Willis on May 6, 2008 11:25 PM MDT reply actions

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