Rafalski's price just went up

Andrei Markov, 4 years, $5.75M per year.

I'd probably let him walk if he wants that kind of money.

I'd probably let him walk if he wants that kind of money.
Me too. I don't think he'll get as much as Markov, but...

Me too. I don't think he'll get as much as Markov, but...

yea id def let him walk for that kind of cash but you also gotta take rafalskis age into consideration

While Rafalski is much better offensively he is not as good defensively, at least in my opinion.

I think you could land Rafalski's 4.5 ish

Other teams he would demand 5+

Rafalski is very underrated defensively, especially 1 on 1. Rafalski's weakness is his size and, sometimes, his decision making.

I'll go as high as $5M for Rafalski, but I won't sign him to more than two years at that kind of contract. At $4.5 I'd be willing to do three years.

Rafalski is older and not as good defensively. He won't get more than $5 million next year. He will probably take a home team discount too....I hope. :)

One would think that Rafalski gets at least a comparable contract in terms of dollars. Markov is a better offensive player than you guys give him credit for - in fact he scored significantly more powerplay points per 60 minutes than Rafalski did - but Rafalski's counting numbers say all the right things to justify a similar paycheque.

From left to right the following numbers are games played, goals, assists, points, even strength points per 60 minutes, and powerplay points per 60 minutes.

BRIAN RAFALSKI 82 8 47 55 0.90 4.64
ANDREI MARKOV 77 6 43 49 0.66 5.62


I should mention that both played top pairing minutes at even strength and came out as a plus. Strictly on last season's stats they are very similar players with one of them getting more of their points on the powerplay. Markov is 28 - how old is Rafalski? If he leaves NJ for a higher bidder I wouldn't be surprised to see as much or more than $5.5 million.

Lou has had a pretty solid track record lately of getting guys on hometown discounts. If Rafalski hit the open market, I imagine he'd get more than Markov. He has Cup experience, which sells. But I also presume he won't hit the open market and he's probably happy with the way the Devils showed confidence in him and launched his career and all that. So I don't know of any reason why you guys wouldn't be able to expect the discount to kick in.

Andrei Markov, 4 years, $5.75M per year.

Another rediculous overpayment.

Another rediculous overpayment.

Are you serious? That's a great deal for both sides. Markov is a fantastic defenseman.

Andrei Markov, 4 years, $5.75M per year.
how bout preissing now? how much will he cost? devils need to go after him.

Are you serious? That's a great deal for both sides. Markov is a fantastic defenseman.

Ehh, 5.75 per is pretty steep. I usually hate complaining about contract terms, but this one is going to raise the $ value of all those tweener #1/2 defensemen like Rafalski. I guess I shouldn't complain... liberalized free agency is what the league was willing to accept after all.

how bout preissing now? how much will he cost? devils need to go after him.

Why?

Montreal has a major problem attracting FA's from anywhere. And yes, they must overpay.

Rafie is a puck moving D-man, and everyones' always looking for one of them, and some temas willing topay thru the nose. This might be Rafielast round up . Lou might be able to get him cheaper by signing him long term (4-5 yrs)

As far as Preissing is concerned, he's a decent 4-6 D-man on most teams. Would be a nice addition.

Why?
cause lou should resign S. Gomez and now that rafalski's price will go up, doubt he'll be here and preissing might come at the right price

ill be happy to see raffy gone so whatever. let another clown pay for his knee shot services. 5 years ago raffy....sign the fool, but now....nah not so much.

Markov is one of the top 10 overall dmen in the league. Rafalski.... MAYBE top 20, but that's debatable. Raffi is more of a powerplay specialist/ complementary #2 than a true #1. I don't think this makes Rafalski's price go up all that much.

It all depends on the player and what they're happy with making. If Rafalski's happy with making $4- 4.5 million a season, then he'll most likely sign with the team he wants to play for, no matter how much the offer, but if he wants top dollar like a lot of other players do, he'll sign with who ever is willing to cough up the most. For some, money's the key, but for others, it's a matter of what they want to do.

I couldn't care less. Let them pay Markov 5.75. Raffy just wants comfort and job security at this point in his career. And he will get that with his hometown team.

Markov is one of the top 10 overall dmen in the league.

Here's a quick list that will prove you that Markov isn't part of the top 10 d-men of the league... I'd say he's a top 15ish

1) Scott Niedermayer
2) Chris Pronger
3) Zedno Chara
4) Sergei Zubov
5) Nicklas Lidstrom
6) Wade Redden
7) Sergei Gonchar
8) Dion Phaneuf
9) Tomas Kaberle
10) Mathias Ohlund

honorable mention: Timonen, Visnovsky, Boyle, Blake, Pitkanen, Bouwmeester.

Here's a quick list that will prove you that Markov isn't part of the top 10 d-men of the league... I'd say he's a top 15ish

1) Scott Niedermayer
2) Chris Pronger
3) Zedno Chara
4) Sergei Zubov
5) Nicklas Lidstrom
6) Wade Redden
7) Sergei Gonchar
8) Dion Phaneuf
9) Tomas Kaberle
10) Mathias Ohlund

honorable mention: Timonen, Visnovsky, Boyle, Blake, Pitkanen, Bouwmeester.

While I don't agree wholeheartedly with that list (Chara, Ohlund), you are correct in saying that Markov is not in the top 10. I would give him an HM though.

While I don't agree wholeheartedly with that list (Chara, Ohlund), you are correct in saying that Markov is not in the top 10. I would give him an HM though.

Chara isn't a top 10 d-men ?!?!?!

P.S. By the way, my list isn't in order of best to worst.

I think that Markov is a wonderful talent offensively, but it's in his own end that I have questions about him.

I've never really looked at Markov as a true and legit #1 defenceman because I don't believe that he's all that good in his own zone.

I would take Rafalski over Markov any day of the week.

Rafalski is the better point producer, not only over the last 2 years (where Markov has exploded points wise) but over the 3 years prior to that and that's all while playing on a much more defence-first oriented team in NJ.

Additionally, Rafalski blows markov out of the water on the defensive side of the puck. Any defenceman that plays in NJ is good and if he's not good when he gets there, he's good when he leaves.

Markov is the flavor of the month, but Rafalski has him beat by a country mile.

Here's a quick list that will prove you that Markov isn't part of the top 10 d-men of the league... I'd say he's a top 15ish

1) Scott Niedermayer
2) Chris Pronger
3) Zedno Chara
4) Sergei Zubov
5) Nicklas Lidstrom
6) Wade Redden
7) Sergei Gonchar
8) Dion Phaneuf
9) Tomas Kaberle
10) Mathias Ohlund

honorable mention: Timonen, Visnovsky, Boyle, Blake, Pitkanen, Bouwmeester.

Markov is at about the same level as Redden in my opinion. Much better than Gonchar defensively, and currently better than Phaneuf overall (though Phaneuf will probably end up being better).

Even if he's top 15, he's still a step above Rafalski.

I think that Markov is a wonderful talent offensively, but it's in his own end that I have questions about him.

I've never really looked at Markov as a true and legit #1 defenceman because I don't believe that he's all that good in his own zone.

I would take Rafalski over Markov any day of the week.

Rafalski is the better point producer, not only over the last 2 years (where Markov has exploded points wise) but over the 3 years prior to that and that's all while playing on a much more defence-first oriented team in NJ.

Additionally, Rafalski blows markov out of the water on the defensive side of the puck. Any defenceman that plays in NJ is good and if he's not good when he gets there, he's good when he leaves.

Markov is the flavor of the month, but Rafalski has him beat by a country mile.

I think they are about even offensively - Markov has a better shot and Raffi is better at running the powerplay - but Markov beats out Rafalski defensively. Rafalski doesn't have the size to play against #1 lines without a big defensive dman to back him up.

Another important difference between Markov and Rafalski:

Markov is widely thought to be Montreal's best player.

Does anyone think Rafalski is the Devils best player? Or even best skater?

While Rafalski is much better offensively he is not as good defensively, at least in my opinion.

I think you could land Rafalski's 4.5 ish

Other teams he would demand 5+

That's what I'm thinking too. I don't expect Rafalski to get more than $5 million a season. And since it sounds as though he really wants to stay here, I don't think he's going to try to break the bank.....

Just because someone signs a contract for X doesn't mean that our player must get a similar contract. There are so many things that go into a contract - and how many times have we seen "x's price just went up!" and it did not happen. Almost every time.

Relax. That type of player is worth 5.75/year to the Montreal Canadians. That's all we have seen proven.

5.75 million is an awful lot of money.

But last year when Richards signed for 7.8(?) million, we were all worried about how that would affect our UFA's, and I don't think that had a big impact. Hopefully this signing won't have a big impact on what Rafalski signs for. I think Rafalski really wants to stay here, so hopefully he and Lou work out a decent deal.

Rafalski should get no more than 4.5...he doesn't deserve that much of a raise.

Rafalski is going to Edmonton..... IMO.

As good as he is that is a steep price IMO and judging by this I'd say we will see alot of massive overpayments for UFA's this summer.

Anyone here still think that guys like Gomez-Briere-Drury aren't going to w/o a doubt exceed 6 million per?

Anyone here still think that guys like Gomez-Briere-Drury aren't going to w/o a doubt exceed 6 million per?


IMO, Drury and Briere will get at least 6 million a year....

Anyone here still think that guys like Gomez-Briere-Drury aren't going to w/o a doubt exceed 6 million per?
If they don't sign for that kind of money, it will be because they walked away from a big(ger) contract to sign for a hometown discount. I don't think there's any doubt they'll all get those kind of offers.

I think they are about even offensively - Markov has a better shot and Raffi is better at running the powerplay - but Markov beats out Rafalski defensively. Rafalski doesn't have the size to play against #1 lines without a big defensive dman to back him up.


You don't need to be HUGE to be a good defenseman. How much size do you need to block shots and poke check the puck ??? Speed and agility is what we need and Rafalski has both. How many times did you see Raffi fighting for the puck in the corner and come out of there with it ??? I'd say about 80 to 85% of the time.

With the new rules, you can't even push the forward from in front of the net without getting a penalty.

Speed and agility >>>> Size and force

(but I agree that we need a mix of both)

I hope Rafalski only gets a 2 year deal. No more long term NTC, and in 2 years sign Niedermayer.

I hope Rafalski only gets a 2 year deal. No more long term NTC, and in 2 years sign Niedermayer.

Not likely, since I think he's going to want to retire after his next contract.

You don't need to be HUGE to be a good defenseman. How much size do you need to block shots and poke check the puck ??? Speed and agility is what we need and Rafalski has both. How many times did you see Raffi fighting for the puck in the corner and come out of there with it ??? I'd say about 80 to 85% of the time.

With the new rules, you can't even push the forward from in front of the net without getting a penalty.

Speed and agility >>>> Size and force

(but I agree that we need a mix of both)

I didn't say Raffi was bad defensively. But he was often overpowered when put out there against the best players from the other team. There's a reason White, Matvichuk, and Martin all got more time against top lines in the playoffs than Rafalski did.

Not likely, since I think he's going to want to retire after his next contract.

I bet Niedermayer re-signs here after his Anaheim stint

I bet Niedermayer re-signs here after his Anaheim stint

I was referring to Raffy not Scott.

I was referring to Raffy not Scott.

Oh I get what you're saying, never mind, carry on.

Oh I get what you're saying, never mind, carry on.

I def. think raffy gets a 4 year deal.

rafalski won't get as much as markov. he's older and not as good:

either 3 year - $16M deal or 4 year $19M deal

rafalski won't get as much as markov. he's older and not as good:

either 3 year - $16M deal or 4 year $19M deal


Depends what side of the puck you are talking about. Markov does not have the speed or agility Rafalski has, nor the PP QB abilities.

I personally think Rafalski is better than Markov. But since he's older, he's not going to get as much. I think Markov is over rated and now probably overpaid.

Didn't Lou already say he's resigning Rafalski? I thought I read that somewhere. Either way I don't think He's going to get much of a raise if any. If we had won the cup that would have been a different story.

I personally think Rafalski is better than Markov. But since he's older, he's not going to get as much. I think Markov is over rated and now probably overpaid.

Didn't Lou already say he's resigning Rafalski? I thought I read that somewhere. Either way I don't think He's going to get much of a raise if any. If we had won the cup that would have been a different story.

Lou didn't say he was going to, but that he wanted to. Rafalski also said that his preference is to stay with the Devils, so we shouldn't be worried about him leaving at all. They will get something done prior to July 1.

If Rafalski walks.. What will Devils D look like?

As a Flyers fan I would look into Timonen or Rafalski but not at 5.75M a year. More like 5.

Markov his a shy guy. He never talk to the media and do what he have to do quietly.
That's why he was a bit underrated. People doen't know him because they don't see him....They don't show the great work of the D-man on TV, they show the goals and the big hit.

Montreal was the badest team in the NHL on 5-5 hockey. When you look at the ± stats, you can see guys like Souray with -28, Koivu -21, Ryder -25...etc.

Only the tandem Markov-Komisarek is in the +. That's a great accomplishement because they are the tandem who played against the top line of every team. Markov played on the PK and the PP. This year he had only 6 goals but the reason is that Markov doesn't shot enought cause the PP strategie this year was to give the puck to Sheldon Souray. But he can score and he his increadible on the PK. On 5-5 hockey, he made a great 1rst pass. The puck doesn't stay on the Habs zone when he was on the ice.

Most underrated defense in the NHL (on the eastern at least cause I don't saw a lot of games from the western): Markov, Boyle, Volchenkov.