Everyone keeps looking at this from a simple numbers standpoint. The hilarious thing is I got roasted early in the season when I suggested we trade Anders if he hasn't reached a deal by the deadline. That was of course before the Islanders played great hockey and I was fine keeping all the UFA's for the playoffs. However, the same things that are being said now I already said about him.
With that being said, I've actually completely changed my mind. We can see how good coaching can make a team succeed, but there is stuff the average fan doesn't realize that makes a team successful as well which is chemistry. Anders seems to command the respect from his teammates, and this isn't a guess. When you hear from Staple and Trotz on several occasions that this team "is there for each other" it means they have the chemistry needed to succeed. You don't break that up. It trickles down from the owner, to the gm, to the coach to the captain, and to the players. That last trickle down is equally as important as the first trickle down. Anders is going to get overpaid by the Islanders if he signs, he's going to decline, but he's also going to be that leader that is necessary for cup wins. That's all there is to it. You bite the bullet on this one and pay the guy. End of story.
