Contract Wars is a new feature where we analyze contracts between similar players with similar output and decide who we would rather have on our team with their current price tag.
Based on their current contract and cap hit, who would you rather have on your hockey team? Colorado Avalanche forward Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau or Calgary Flames forward Jiri Hudler?
Analysis after the jump...
P.A Parenteau:
Contract: 4 years, 16 million
2009-2010 Stats: 22 GP - 3G - 5A - 8Pts (NYR)
2010-2011 Stats: 81 GP - 20G - 33A - 53Pts (NYI)
2011-2012 Stats: 80 GP - 18G - 49A - 67Pts (NYI)
P.A Parenteau is finally showing just what kind of player he is capable of being. Since the 2006-2007 season, Parenteau has been part of six different organizations at the AHL and NHL level. After bouncing around teams and being a career minor leaguer, the New York Islanders gave him the chance to succeed by placing him on a line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson.
After his first full season in the NHL, Parenteau had put up 53 points, good for second best on the team. The Islanders rewarded him for his successful season and he did not disappoint.
This past season Parenteau scored 67 points which was tied for 26th best in the NHL. His 49 assists placed him 11th in the league...not bad for a player who was relatively unknown until this season. As a member of the Avalanche there will be a greater amount of pressure on him to score, but he will also have quality possible line mates in Paul Statsny, Calder Trophy winner Gabriel Landeskog, or Matt Duchene.
All three options for line mates will have a positive effect on Parenteau's point total as well as play.
Statsny is still one of the best when it comes to points per game. When he's healthy, he's clicking at a high rate. Having a pure offensive winger like Parenteau will create more options for Statsny.
I personally believe that Parenteau's addition to the Avalanche will not only help them score more, but directly affect their position in the standings as well. In today's NHL you will not win by blocking more shots. As elementary as the concept is, you win games by scoring goals. With Parenteau in their lineup the Avalanche will score more. Colorado was 25th in the NHL for goals for (2.43) last season but they were also 19th in the league in man games lost to injury (174). They may have been in the bottom tier for games lost to injury but Matt Duchene, a key part of the Avalanche's offense, was hurt for most of the year.
Parenteau should be able to build off yet another strong season and while it may not result in an increase in his individual points, his play should elevate his teammates paying dividends for the Colorado Avalanche.
2009-2010 Stats: 22 GP - 3G - 5A - 8Pts (NYR)
2010-2011 Stats: 81 GP - 20G - 33A - 53Pts (NYI)
2011-2012 Stats: 80 GP - 18G - 49A - 67Pts (NYI)
P.A Parenteau is finally showing just what kind of player he is capable of being. Since the 2006-2007 season, Parenteau has been part of six different organizations at the AHL and NHL level. After bouncing around teams and being a career minor leaguer, the New York Islanders gave him the chance to succeed by placing him on a line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson.
After his first full season in the NHL, Parenteau had put up 53 points, good for second best on the team. The Islanders rewarded him for his successful season and he did not disappoint.
This past season Parenteau scored 67 points which was tied for 26th best in the NHL. His 49 assists placed him 11th in the league...not bad for a player who was relatively unknown until this season. As a member of the Avalanche there will be a greater amount of pressure on him to score, but he will also have quality possible line mates in Paul Statsny, Calder Trophy winner Gabriel Landeskog, or Matt Duchene.
All three options for line mates will have a positive effect on Parenteau's point total as well as play.
Statsny is still one of the best when it comes to points per game. When he's healthy, he's clicking at a high rate. Having a pure offensive winger like Parenteau will create more options for Statsny.
I personally believe that Parenteau's addition to the Avalanche will not only help them score more, but directly affect their position in the standings as well. In today's NHL you will not win by blocking more shots. As elementary as the concept is, you win games by scoring goals. With Parenteau in their lineup the Avalanche will score more. Colorado was 25th in the NHL for goals for (2.43) last season but they were also 19th in the league in man games lost to injury (174). They may have been in the bottom tier for games lost to injury but Matt Duchene, a key part of the Avalanche's offense, was hurt for most of the year.
Parenteau should be able to build off yet another strong season and while it may not result in an increase in his individual points, his play should elevate his teammates paying dividends for the Colorado Avalanche.
Jiri Hudler:
Contract: 4 years, 16 million
2009-2010 Stats: 54 GP - 19G - 34A - 54Pts (KHL)
2010-2011 Stats: 73 GP - 10G - 27A - 37Pts (DET)
2011-2012 Stats: 81 GP - 25G - 25A - 50Pts (DET)
By signing Hudler to a 4 year, $16 million contract, the Calgary Flames are hoping that Hudler can build off a strong comeback season and increase his point output.
Jiri Hudler gave Red Wings fans an idea of the player he would be in 2008-2009 when he scored 57 points (23G 34A). Following his breakout season, Hudler held out on resigning with the Red Wings hoping he would get a better contract. He did not receive an offer of his liking so he played overseas in the KHL for one year.
In his one season in the KHL, Hudler demonstrated that he can be a consistent point producer by scoring 54 points in 54 games. He returned to the Red Wings following that season but it was obvious he was a step behind.
Hudler came back and set career highs for goals last season (25) as a second tier player for Detroit.
The big question mark with Hudler is what kind of player is he? Is he the type of player that a coach can confidently use in his top six and get the expected results? Or is he a fringe top six player that is better suited in second line/third line duty?
Calgary hopes he can be that top six player and will give him ample opportunity to prove it.
Playing along side Mikael Backlund, Jarome Iginla, Mike Cammalleri and/or Alex Tanguay will be good for the 28 year old Czech but it will not be the same as playing with Datsyuk or Zetterberg.
Something else to keep in mind is the fact that the Flames are coming off another low scoring season. In 2011-2012 the Flames were ranked 24th in goals for per game with 2.43. In 2010-2011 the Flames were 8th with 2.93 goals per game which proves that they can bring the offense.
Hudler's biggest competition will be Mike Cammalleri for the top line left wing position. If he can start the season strong, expect him to be on the top line with Jarome Iginla. A versatile player, Hudler adds an element to Calgary's top six that they did not have before. Iginla is a goal scorer, Cammalleri is a goal scorer, Tanguay is a play maker; Hudler can be both.
Having a player like Hudler who can fool defensemen and goalies with his unpredictability will be huge for the Flames.
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I personally would pick Parenteau because of his recent rise in the NHL. Not only did he produce a very impressive point total, he did so while on the New York Islanders. Both players would complement any lineup they are placed but that is what they are - complementary players. These are not two superstars but rather additions to an established core to push them over the edge.
I would feel more comfortable inserting Parenteau into my lineup knowing that he can produce at a high level rather than Hudler who is still trying to find out just what kind of player he is. The potential is there for Hudler to increase. I believe that Hudler's ceiling is higher than Parenteau's but he has yet to reach it. Time is running out for him as most players are already in their prime at 28 years of age.
Parenteau and Hudler both signed identical 4 year $16 million contracts this summer. Given the statistics and analysis, which winger would you rather have on your team with that price tag? Share your thoughts and comments in the comment section!
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