Congrats to all teams on another bidding well done(by some)! In this thread I'll break down, in my own opinion, the best bids won from each of the 5 skater positions this past weekend. With it being "Summer season" and less people signing up and therefore causing inflation on the average player, some managers still managed to find deals. @xCROSBYx l87l // C // $5.25M - Charlotte Checkers BRETT FAVRE! After "retiring" and then living for it so much he couldn't even miss week 1, Crosby is back. People will ask, "How is $5.25M is steal, you wet brain?!", which seems logical. Well, when I look at the overall talent in bidding and the players available... there are not many, if any, better than Crosby. He gets a lot of (warranted) hate but at the end of the day, he is an impact player with the ability to carry a line. Usually with a player of that calibre, you'll have to overpay in the $7M rangle so Charlotte got a steal at $5.25M. After a less than spectacular S29, look for Crosby to bounce back to form and be atop the leaderboards this season. @Chenz l 4 l // RW // $500k - Stockton Heat A former NHLer who hasn't played since S27, in which he took a ban, likely scared teams away but what a mistake. He began his last active season going 10-0-0 in the NHL and had close to top points in the league on a very good SJ Sharks team before being traded to an abominable Minnesota Wild team and quitting. If this player can finish the season, look for him to be a difference maker for the reigning champs as they look to repeat. @im just a squid // LW // $5M - Utica Comets Once again, "Axey, you moron... $5M isn't a bargain!" ... but what if you could get one of the most skilled players, an all-time GOAT and the most dominate player in the league from 2 seasons ago for that price? YOU DO IT. Last season Squid was in less-than-ideal circumstances, surrounded by few talented players and having 16 games of tough matchups, he still turned out a positive record and was an Allstar captain. Give squid some bodies with marginal talent and he should have no problem producing 20+ wins and ~80 points. @BulgingBlowfish // RD // $2.5M - Cleveland Monsters Another player who hasn't been seen since S27 and is back for the Summer. With a limited number of defensemen available in bidding, especially talented ones, this is an excellent price tag. In his last active season he was on a very good Griffins team after a mid-season trade from an even better Rockford team and played the majority(16) of his games vs. playoff teams. He put up 20 wins, 24 points and was +30. With quality defensemen being scarce in bidding, getting one who can slot onto your top pairing and be successful at both ends of the ice for $2.5M... that's an easy bargain. Look for BulgingBlowfish to have at least 16 wins, 80+ TAs, almost an even TA/GA and add 20+ points on a surprisingly well put together Cleveland team. @iTzMagic13 // LD // $1M - Rockford IceHogs Low-risk, High-reward. Somehow Rockford snagged Magic for only $1M... I guess @Air Raiders' knowledge of CHL guys finally paid off for one player at least. Magic is a defensemen who plays a very offensive game, something that even the more talented Dmen seem to lack. He was a pillar for an underrated Oshawa team and should transition seamlessly to the AHL, especially after going 3-0 as an AHL ECU last season. With his contract being so low, expect him to be a trade target for contenders close to deadline time. 15+ wins and 30 points is not out of the question for Magic if he doesn't miss time. What more could one want for $1M? Notables: @Oh So Country, @Grazzei, @Don Miguel 33, @NotYou197730, @Black Paperclip, @Calgary Flames **Didn't do goalies because there are 15 $500k goalies I would consider steals. Oh and @Darcy Kuemper went for super cheap as well.
county is a huge steal, hes been off the radar lately but a former 5 mil dman at 1.5 in summer season? some teams really missed out. good article! thanks for taking the time out to do it.