On Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that the team had re-signed Brock McGinn to a two-year contract at $2.1 million per year ($1.9 million 2019-20 and $2.3 million in 2020-21). The deal came before the arbitration hearing which was scheduled for Saturday.
Below are a few levels of thoughts on Brock McGinn’s signing.
Brock McGinn’s contract
I had McGinn at $1.75 million per year and would have been fine with one year or two at that price. In a salary cap world, every dollar counts, but $350,000 will not be what determines if the team is successful going forward. And as far as comparables go, the salary is a reasonable middle ground between a bargain and a higher end that could possibly be justified by McGinn’s 16 goals and 30 points in 2017-18.
So if one considers McGinn to be a pure fourth-liner, $2.1 million would be a modest premium. If instead one considers McGinn to be a top 9 forward, that same price is a discount. So if one puts him somewhere in the middle, the price is probably a fair one for his role somewhat similar to Jordan Martinook’s $2 million salary.
Brock McGinn’s role/slot
As alluded to above, I view McGinn as a tweener line-wise. Ideally on a good team, I think he gets pushed down to a fourth line role. At the same time, I think McGinn can make a legitimate case for being a physical component in the top 9. When you add in his role on the penalty kill and the fact that he is Nathan Gerbe-like in terms of consistent every shift intensity, he brings more to the lineup than the stats table would indicate. For the 2019-20 Carolina Hurricanes lineup, he could fit on Staal’s match up line or on a fourth line that should score some with the potential to step higher in the lineup to provide a spark and/or fill in if/when injuries occur.
My two cents
I like the deal. The salary might be a tiny bit high if McGinn does find himself in a fourth line slot, but he has played in a top 9 role and earned that salary. In addition, McGinn is a heart and soul type player who leaves it all on the ice every night and competes every shift. Especially with the aim of instilling this mentality across the entire lineup, McGinn is a leader in that regard.
Go Canes!
It’s all right. I think he’s not that much of a difference maker but he’s a character guy who has a place in Hurricanes history (the series clinching OT goal against the Caps.
He’s a borderline third liner at best, so the deal is good if he is at the top of his range but generous for a 4th liner.
My thoughts are much like breezy’s. McGinn is a versatile player who can fill different roles, but is a third or fourth line player. He’s an average third liner who doesn’t score much on a team with no depth and a fourth liner otherwise. I’m not negative on the signing if he is going to be on our 4th line as he would be an above average player in that role.
The $6M cap hit for Marleau should not be an obstacle to re-sign Willy. That would be a travesty.
Not 100% behind this as Saku will be a cheaper alternative on the 4th line. Not Bad though-especially if Williams retires.
As far as JWilly, don’t know if he even comes back. The canes can make room for him if he does and even push most of his contract to next year.
If the team resigns Williams and has some injuries then the Marleau cap hit can be an issue in trading for replacements.
How many years have we been talking about needing top-9 forward depth that would push 3rd line guys to the 4th line. And we’re talking about CAP problems. What a time to be alive, Caniacs!
Oh, it’s a good time to be a Caniac!
Just a hypothetical. Other assets might need to be involved, but what about a trade of Jordan Staal for Max Domi?
Other than Jordan has an NMC, it would require a civil conversation between Mark Bergevin and Don Waddell, Montreal loves the value and talent of their “little ball of hate” and Jordan will be the senior statesman for the Canes were JW to retire, you will need to explain what “other assets” mean to convince me you aren’t just stirring the pot to occupy our time during the “dog days’ of hockey news. In other hypothetical signings, Max Domi is an RFA next summer. What kind of offer sheet should the Canes use to tempt him south?
I doubt that Donny took the offer sheet personally. I am rather cynical about life and think that it was a ploy devised by NHL management to put the damper on offer sheets in general.
Jordan’s NMC is either a factor or it isn’t. His recent family problems might have created a restlessness and a need for a change of venue (grasping at straws here). Montreal is every hockey player’s dream, etc.
Max would be a great replacement for Michael Ferland. I watched his dad play and even though he was small, he was rated to be one of the best fighters in the NHL. I believe that Max has his dad’s stuff plus hockey talent.
Montreal is not shy about making big trades. They do not seem to care much about fan sentiment either. Of course, being Montreal, they don’t have to care.
Like I said, the details of other pieces in the trade might be fascinating.
And like I said, just a hypothetical.
Have the Canes entered a prospect tournament this September? They will not be in the Traverse City Tournament for the first time in a while.
I’ve answered my own question. They will be playing in Nashville in a 4 team tourney with Nashville, Washington and Tampa. It was announced last November.