60 replies to this topic

[mort4345]

I realize this topic will be heresy for some, but I've actually been thinking about this for some time: Is our beloved captain overpaid? To sum up, he basically landed a 7-year deal for $42 ($7.5 million next year, a contract average of $6 million). Last year he posted 69 points (21 goals, 48 assists) and had 8 PP goals. In the playoffs he scored on PP goal and had 9 assists. Elias generally plays rather soft, is non existent during shootouts and seems to go on prolonged cold streaks at inopportune times. Not that it's his fault, but his bout with hepatitis seems to have some lingering effects as well. And could that illness weigh him down in the future? Not to be harsh, but it seems to me that packaging Elias (could we put something together with Vancouver?) might not be the craziest idea in the world. Thoughts?

[devilsadvoc8]

Depends, was Elias' last year a trend or an aberation. If an aberation, then no.

[jkrdevil]

Can't really say he is overpaid when Gomez had less points than him last year and got more money on the open market.

Elias had a bad year last year. I think he will be fine. He also has NMC so he isn't going anywhere.

[Triumph]

Elias's contract is significantly better than almost every deal signed during this FA period, and he is a better player than every single player who went to market this off-season.

[njdevil26]

We all agree Elias did not have a great year last year and he still was (I think) the leader in points. Elias at his best overpaid? No. We'll have to see what kind of year he has this coming year. There was a lot of pressure on him this season being the new captain with the new contract. First scoring line, first powerplay line... If we focus on the new faces, and maybe Parise - Zajac- and Langenbrunner will handle the scoring... Elias plays better out of the spotlight it seems

[Devils731]

I would contend Elias doesn't play soft at all. On the top 2 lines he probably ended up having the most big hits for the year, followed closely by Langs, and then nobody else even close to either of them. Elias also doesn't have a problem going anywhere on the ice regardless of the physical contact he may attract.

At the end of the day Elias is one of the best 2 way wingers in the game and the contract he has is a good deal, IMO.

[MantaRay]

Elias's contract is significantly better than almost every deal signed during this FA period, and he is a better player than every single player who went to market this off-season.

Nuff said

[CRASHER]

you know, I swear
it's threads like this that make me want to shut the place down for the summer

the stupid factor is BEYOND out of control now.....

[Devils731]

you know, I swear
it's threads like this that make me want to shut the place down for the summer

the stupid factor is BEYOND out of control now.....

Come on Crasher, I don't think that is fair in this case. This guy brought on opinion and gave his reasons for it. I definitely don't agree but it wasn't a plug for a site and the poster gave some thought to it which led into a discussion.

[msweet]

you know, I swear
it's threads like this that make me want to shut the place down for the summer

the stupid factor is BEYOND out of control now.....

You know you are a die hard Devil's fan when you get this upset at this kind of post....


oops... wrong thread.

Elias's contract is significantly better than almost every deal signed during this FA period, and he is a better player than every single player who went to market this off-season.

This should just about end discussion on this thread.

[CRASHER]

Come on Crasher, I don't think that is fair in this case. This guy brought on opinion and gave his reasons for it. I definitely don't agree but it wasn't a plug for a site and the poster gave some thought to it which led into a discussion.

I guess not
and in a normal summer I'm sure I'd be ok with it

but I think my tolerance for the less then intelligent threads on here is thinning a little... and how anyone can be overpaid compared to the moronic money and years even Gomez and Rafalski got is hard to imagine to me

[pattyelias]

$6 million a season for 21 goals and 69 points for Elias versus $7.3 million a season for 13 goals and 60 points for Gomez. Seems like Elias is a steal.

[metallidevils]

I'm admittedly not a big fan at all of Elias, but Triumph is right...in this day and age, I guess we're considered lucky to have a guy with potential for a point a game (maybe more) for that sort of money. Especially since, at least with every Devils signing, everyone is really only focusing on one or two solid seasons that these guys had, and are expecting similar production.

However, I can't agree with the captaincy at all.

[metallidevils]

$6 million a season for 21 goals and 69 points for Elias versus $7.3 million a season for 13 goals and 60 points for Gomez. Seems like Elias is a steal.

Almost every contract in the league seems like a steal compared to the Gomez contract.

Jeter at like 16 million is a 'steal' compared to ARod at 25 million, it doesn't matter, they're both still overpaid.

I'm not going to contradict what I just said above, I'm not complaining that Elias is overpaid (well, before this offseason I was), but you can't just compare it with Gomez's contract and call it a steal.

[njdevil26]

Overall I think Elias is not overpaid compared to what he could have gotten on the market this summer.

[Devil Dan 56]

Elias just had a rough year. Look at the way he played the year before this after he came back from the hepatitis, and how he played against the Rags in the playoffs that year. Remember the soccer kick pass?? He'll be fine. Although, I do agree I don't see him as a captain.

[Matteau#32]

Here's what you have to realize, Elias was very underpaid with his first two contracts. Secondly, could he have received that same money on the open market? Without question. I could have things mixed up, but I have heard that Sather offered him more money than the Devils last year and he turned it down. Part of me thinks he was signed before July 1st, so I could just be off here.

Now, want to say his production hasn't matched his salary? That is one thing. However, if that is the reason you are going to trade him, you are not going to get fair market value for his potential. You never do on salary dumps.

Edited by Matteau#32, 13 July 2007 - 05:47 PM.

[Chimaira_Devil_#9]

They guy had a horrible year last season by his standards, and he still lead this team in points.

He can forecheck when needed, the guy is not soft in any way, he might have lost a little bit of grit due to the ilness, but he is no way overpaid.

If he was a FA this year i expect he would have been the #1.

I expect him to have a great year for us this season.

[squishyx]

I think Elias is well over paid but im glad we did it. I'd rather over pay a few players and put together a contending team year in and year out then get every player at cost and become a step up from a farm team.

[pattyelias]

Almost every contract in the league seems like a steal compared to the Gomez contract.

Jeter at like 16 million is a 'steal' compared to ARod at 25 million, it doesn't matter, they're both still overpaid.

I'm not going to contradict what I just said above, I'm not complaining that Elias is overpaid (well, before this offseason I was), but you can't just compare it with Gomez's contract and call it a steal.

I was being sarcastic. That being said I don't really feel that Elias' contract is that crazy. I mean unlike Gomez, we're talking about a guy who has had a 40 goal season and 2 more 30 goal seasons. He also has the single season Devils scoring mark. When he came back from hepatitis he single handedly changed the team's fortunes. Patty has also had some huge playoffs, and in years where the Devils were successfully in the playoffs, unlike Gomez who only seemed to show up in the playoffs last year when he realized he had to impress potential free agency bidders since his regular season was so lackluster.

With Patty you know you're going to get heart, leadership, clutch scoring, great 2-way play and a great attitude. With Gomez all you know you're going to get nifty moves through the neutral zone.