What Makes a "Good" Contract? Right Wings Edition

With all of the contract talk here in Minnesota the past few days, maybe more discussion of good and bad contracts is the last thing anyone wants. Alas, we started this race, and we're going to finish it. Clearly, we here at Hockey Wilderness feel strongly about good and bad contracts, so hopefully no one takes offense when a couple guys end up with "not so great" as their rating in this one.

Here we go.

There really is no good place to start on this side of the ice, so I'll just go in the order they are listed on NHL.com. Once again, all salary figures from CapGeek.com.

Cap Hit: $5 million

Years Remaining: 5

Good or Bad: Good, with stipulations. Judging by the players with comparable points, Havlat's deal is put into perspective a bit. Kessel was brought in to be a savior, and let's admit it, so was Havlat. Kessel's hit is dwarfed by the draft picks the Leafs are giving up for him, so Havlat is a steal by that standard.

Cap Hit:$2.33 million

Years Remaining: Final year of contract

Good or Bad: Bad.  Here again, the comparables points guys make this deal look better than it is. Miettinen plays on the top line, the top line people, and misses the net more than he hits it. The points he does have, came in streaks, leaving Mikko And Bruno alone on the ice most nights. While the contract is a small one, a a fairly standard one, it still reeks like rotten garbage. Yeah, I get it. The guys with similar points all have higher contracts than him. Of the guys listed above, Hjeduk is in the twilight of his career and on the back end of earning potential. Boyes and Wheeler had highly disappointing years, and Vrbata... well, he's just Vrbata.

Maybe this contract isn't as bad as it feels it is, but the fact that the top line RW only had 42 points is highly disappointing, and likely tainting my opinion of the deal.

Quality top line RWs are difficult to find. Insert Gaborik joke here:______________________

Cap Hit: $1.4 million

Years Remaining: 3

This deal is not a steal, but it is fair, which makes it a good contract.

Cap Hit: $2.33 million

Years Remaining: Final year of contract

Comparables: See: Antti Miettinen, above. Roughly a 40 point guy, last year riddled with injuries.

Good or Bad: Good. Here is where I get sketchy, because I think $2.33 million for Kobasew is not a bad deal, but it is for Mittens. Kobasew was brought in to fill a third line role, at least in my estimation. I don't have Chuck Fletcher's notes, but trading for Kobasew looked to be a stop gap until Bouchard returned to the line up. Another energy type guy, maybe under-utilized in Boston, and maybe capable of pushing 50 -60 points. He is not a prototypical top line guy, but he certainly could not do worse than Miettinen up there. Would be interesting to see him on a line with Koivu, just to see if there is chemistry. If Butch can't return at the beginning of the year, maye Todd Richards give Kobasew a shot.

Cap Hit: $4.080 million

Years Remaining: 3

Good or Bad: Good. The comparison numbers don't lie. The guys putting in 60 points from the right side get around 4-5 million per season. With Butch missing all of last season, fans want to jump all over this deal, especially since HWSRN gave him a verbal no movement clause to go with it. Well, the NMC is likely out the window, and the $4 million went to the insurance company, not to Craig Leipold. Butch's injury hurt in the standings, but it did not hurt for cap space. Long term IR status allowed the Wild to spend to replace him, but who can you just go get that is going to notch 60 points? No one, that's who.

So, those who think this is a bad contract may need to give Butch a season where he actually plays, and allow him to be the player he is. You all know the type... he's a play maker. Using the third definition of the words "play maker:" guy who skates down the ice, spins around, and either gives up the puck or tries to force one too many passes.

I want to side with those who say this is a bad deal, I really do, but the numbers don't lie. If he puts in 60 points, he earns his keep.

Position total: $10.14 million per season