(3) Wade Redden v. (11) Mattias Ohlund

by Scott Reynolds on Mar 31, 2011 10:38 AM MDT

Vincent Lecavalier punched his ticket to the quarterfinals yesterday with a win over Brian Campbell, which leaves just two defenders in the tournament, and they'll be competing against one another today. Mattias Ohlund advanced to the second round with a 107-76 upset victory over Chris Pronger, while Wade Redden cruised to victory in the first round, pasting Derek Boogaard 196-76. After the jump, I'll make the case for each guy.

Wade Redden

Redden's no trade-clause allows him to refuse a trade to eight teams, but I'm sure he'd take any NHL city over playing in Hartford and riding the buses, so that ought not be considered much of a factor. The point has been made a couple of times in the comments, but it's worth pointing out in the main body that while Redden's contract doesn't do damage to the Rangers' cap during the season, teams are only allowed to spend above the cap by 10% during the summer, and Redden's deal takes care of that and then some, which is a major constraint on what the Rangers hope to achieve in the off-season. It's a terrible situation for Redden too. He's a good enough player to be in the NHL, but that big ticket has made him prohibitively inefficient. The deal runs for just three more years after this one, but between now and then, the best thing for the Rangers is likely to eat the money and hope that Redden's desire to get back to the NHL results in a terminated contract and a fresh start.

Mattias Ohlund

That hope for termination doesn't exist for the Lightning. For a budget team, it doesn't make any sense to send an NHL player making big coin to the AHL unless he really isn't capable of playing in the NHL. Ohlund certainly isn't at that point yet (he's been playing a tough minutes role with Tampa this year), but he may get there between now and and when he turns thirty-nine at the start of the 2015-16 season. Redden's deal is bad, but it ends two years sooner than Ohlund's, and the total cash commitment from the start of the 2011-12 season to the end of the deal is actually less than Ohlund's (Redden is owed $16.5M, while Ohlund is owed $17.25M). The big Swede's deal might just be worse.

The Bracket

Poll

Which player has a worse contract going forward?

(3) Wade Redden

213 votes

(11) Mattias Ohlund

25 votes

238 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I’m among the few with this opinion but I think the Ohlund deal is the worse of the two. I can’t even quantify why, there is just something about that deal that I simply do not like.

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by ryanbatty on Mar 31, 2011 11:42 AM MDT reply actions

Tough call. Bigger cap hit or longer term for a player in decline? I think I have to give the edge to Ohlund.

by TakeoutArtist on Mar 31, 2011 12:20 PM MDT reply actions

Ohlund becomes tradeable to a team needing to make the cap floor but who is low on cash.

by jeffgm on Mar 31, 2011 12:55 PM MDT up reply actions

He and 45 other players competing for those coveted two roster spots…

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Mar 31, 2011 3:43 PM MDT up reply actions

There is no guarantee that Ohlund will finish out that contract, and since he doesn’t have an NMC, it wouldn’t be onerous to bury him for the last two years even if he wanted to play. It’s Redden by a mile.

by Triumph44 on Mar 31, 2011 12:22 PM MDT reply actions

How is Jay Bouwmeester or Phaneuf not in this competition?

by Jeremywilhelm on Mar 31, 2011 12:37 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

D’oh just saw Phaneuf.

by Jeremywilhelm on Mar 31, 2011 12:38 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

I’d enter Komisarek leaf’s contract, to me it is worse than Redden’s

by jeffgm on Mar 31, 2011 1:10 PM MDT up reply actions

what if Komisarek is sent to the marlies…then?

without honor, victory is hollow

by SumOil on Mar 31, 2011 6:41 PM MDT up reply actions

NM clause. He can’t be sent to AHL. His play has been poor this season with 6th dman minutes and the occasional pressbox duty at 4.5M. Redden costs more but at least he can be buried in the AHL.

by jeffgm on Mar 31, 2011 8:43 PM MDT up reply actions

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