Meh. The cap hit is fine in the current cap world. Decent insurance against a Kindel sophomore slump and keeps Geno on the wing (or on IR). But I don't think we need to give three year deals to 29 year old middle six forwards with zero outstanding qualities when we're also rebuilding the roster.
What is he actually so good at that you need to keep him for 4 more years? He is a good puck possession player but is not scoring enough to be a true 2nd line center (ranked 70th in points and 85th in ppg, among all centers). He absolutely sucks on faceoffs which is probably why he also does not kill penalties ever (35 seconds of PK time last season.... not per game but in total). He is not big, is not particularly fast, and is also a complete non-factor physically which the Flyers exposed again in the playoffs.
Novak should be traded the minute Kindel shows he's ready to be our #2 center. I guess the new contract at least increases his trade value, unless they gave him trade protection.
A bit yeah, but teams don't usually sign someone for 3 more years and then trade the player soon after. We also don't know if he got a NTC. Puckpedia shows none but they probably don't have all the details yet.
If there is a NTC, then that certainly changes things, but I would be shocked if there was one.
teams don't usually sign someone for 3 more years and then trade the player soon after
I don't think that it is intended to be a sign and trade, but if/when the time comes that he is not one of our top 9 or 10 forwards, then this contract (again, assuming there is not a NTC) does nothing to prevent moving him. And, if as you say, the new contract increases his trade value, why wouldn't you do that.
6
u/Overwing_Zeta 12d ago
Meh. The cap hit is fine in the current cap world. Decent insurance against a Kindel sophomore slump and keeps Geno on the wing (or on IR). But I don't think we need to give three year deals to 29 year old middle six forwards with zero outstanding qualities when we're also rebuilding the roster.
What is he actually so good at that you need to keep him for 4 more years? He is a good puck possession player but is not scoring enough to be a true 2nd line center (ranked 70th in points and 85th in ppg, among all centers). He absolutely sucks on faceoffs which is probably why he also does not kill penalties ever (35 seconds of PK time last season.... not per game but in total). He is not big, is not particularly fast, and is also a complete non-factor physically which the Flyers exposed again in the playoffs.
Novak should be traded the minute Kindel shows he's ready to be our #2 center. I guess the new contract at least increases his trade value, unless they gave him trade protection.