I don't share the opinion that Roussel and Beagle are bad contracts. I am not hot on Sutter's. And of course Eriksson's is bad.
If Jim has shorn up our top 9 with other value contracts; Ferland, Virtanen, Miller, Pearson? Baer somewhat on par with Sutter for not being great. But well short of a dead loss.
We'll still be able to wait it out. With these deals. Have some ELC's within two years to start superceding them. Lind, Hoglander, with some luck Gadjovich, Podkolzin, Madden, with some luck Lockwood, Gaudette sooner.Leivo expires next year. Schaller next year. Baer, Sutter & Pearson, the year after. Before both expansion. And Hughes + Pettersson's pacts. If we shed even one significant pact? Just Tanev's pact may buy enough space next year for Barrie. If Eriksson is dispatched somehow, ANOTHER potential bad contract for a role player like Roussel?
I prefer it to having a sheer cliff in quality 1/2 way through the 3rd line. Sutter, when healthy was top 3 in minutes. Had a valuable role, even if a black hole in scoring. Some of these guys give us match up bodies, weight, speed, puck wins, an ability to punish opposing D. Its not all goals and assists...