Re-sign Gionta?

[GASabresIUFAN]

Two guys who have been consistently good all season have been vets Moulson and Gionta.

Gionta is 3rd on the Sabres in goals with 7 (21 goal pace). Moulson is second with 8 (24 goal pace). They are tied for 5th with 13 pts.

 

We've discussed Moulson before, and most of us, including me, have been dismissive about re-signing Gionta, especially considering both Cap and expansion considerations. However, the more I watch him and with our continued need for both scoring and leadership, I'm beginning to wonder if he should be retained for another year or two.

 

Why am I considering changing my opinion? The goals scoring is obvious, but his line with Foligno and Larsson has been our only consistent line for about a year and a half. We need the stability, the shutdown checking line and the secondary scoring. He also doesn't seem to be slowing down. Despite his size, he is surprisingly physical. Basically, there is nothing not to like except his age.

 

Still expansion and cap consideration are important. What will it cost to keep him? If GMTM wants him back, when does he get re-signed and for how long? 1 year? 2? Does he remain the team Captain if re-signed?

[qwksndmonster]

Stopped reading after the first sentence.

[Stoner]

Stopped reading after the first sentence.

Kinda hard to argue with the production, no?

 

Good post and topic.

[darksabre]

I would take Gionta back on the right deal. Moulson...pass. 

[WildCard]

I'd take Gionta on a 1 year deal all day

 

We really need to dump Gorges though

[mjd1001]

I'm happy with how Gionta is playing this year, but I don't think I want him back next year.

 

MAYBE If one of the Sabres top 9 guys gets an injury this year that will take it into next year...AND you can get Gionta on a 1 year deal for under $2 million, then MAYBE.

 

But, as well as he is playing, he is NOT going to be a better player next year and he is likely to be losing a little bit as each month goes by.

 

I'd like to revisit this thread in March or April and see how he is playing then.

[dudacek]

Gionta at a $4.5 million cap hit? No way.

Gionta on a one-year $2 million deal. Absolutely.

Guy has to have been one of the most effective 3rd line wingers in the league.

[qwksndmonster]

Kinda hard to argue with the production, no?

 

Good post and topic.

Yeah, the rest of the post puts it in context. Moulson is signed for what, 3 more years? Yikes. But I'm fine with Gio in the bottom six on a 1 year deal.

[Randall Flagg]

As long as he'd be a top 12 forward, go for it. If he wouldn't be then nah.

[pi2000]

????????

[inkman]

Players like Gionta get phased out of your lineup. Fasching, Baptiste or (gulp) Bailey should push him out of the lineup. None of them has done so to this point. One of them should by next season. A lot will depend on the expansion draft. If they lose a big salary to the draft and its a forward, (i guess only Moulson applies) then re-sign him. If they lose a young player with a low salary, I doubt they could re-sign him.

[thewookie1]

1 year for 2mil or less sure.

[nfreeman]

So far Gionta hasn't looked like he is out of gas -- i.e. he's looked much better IMHO than Legwand looked last year.

 

If he's able to keep up this pace for the entire season, I'd be fine with a 1-year deal at about $2MM.

 

If one of the kids from Rochester makes a push, it will be someone other than Gionta that gets displaced (again, assuming Gionta keeps up his current level of play).

[beerme1]

No. I'm ready for the next captain to lead us into the next phase. Matty Mo No. 

[Sabres Fan in NS]

As long as he is contributing to the growth of the team, which he is in many ways, I say yes ... 2 years at 5 million (2.5 million per year).

[North Buffalo]

I'd take Gionta on a 1 year deal all day

We really need to dump Gorges though

My thoughts exactly.

[SHAAAUGHT!!!]

This is the first time Gionta has been 100% healthy on a non-tank Sabres team.  He is skating faster, harder, and with a chip on his shoulder.  Without a doubt we should sign him to a one-year deal next year for depth and leadership - as long as he remains healthy and no one better is available on the open market. 

[TrueBlueGED]

Sign me up for 1 year at half his current salary.

[Doohicksie]

I doubt he gets signed for any more years.  I'm okay if he does, but I kind of feel he's accomplished what he came here to do.  Especially if we make the playoffs this year I think he can hang up the skates and be satisfied with what he did here.  I was not in favor of him getting the C but in retrospect it was perfect.

[Drunkard]

I like Gionta but I'm ok with him retiring or signing elsewhere. I doubt he's willing to play next year for half of what he's making this season. I think Kane would fill his spot nicely while also solving the problem of figuring out where to play him.

[bob_sauve28]

He's playing better than Reinhart

[dudacek]

From a couple interviews I've seen this year, I don't think Gio wants to retire.

Doubt he'd want to uproot his family either.

[imnotreallyscott]

Players like Gionta get phased out of your lineup. Fasching, Baptiste or (gulp) Bailey should push him out of the lineup. None of them has done so to this point. One of them should by next season. A lot will depend on the expansion draft. If they lose a big salary to the draft and its a forward, (i guess only Moulson applies) then re-sign him. If they lose a young player with a low salary, I doubt they could re-sign him.

 

Moulson is protected by a NTC.  He can't go to Las Vegas.

[dudacek]

Moulson is protected by a NTC.  He can't go to Las Vegas.

MOulson is eligible for Vegas. NTCs don't matter, only NMCs.

It's been pretty well established on here that the only guy we have to protect is Okposo.

[GASabresIUFAN]

The Sabres next season current cap outlook is as follows

Forwards: 8 under contract - Jack, Sam, ROR, Okposo, Kane, Ennis, Moulson & Deslauriers.  COST: 31 Million ====> add Carrier for 689K for 9 players at 31.65

RFA's (3) Foligno, Larsson, & Girgensons; UFA's (2) Grant and GIONTA

 

Defense: 4 under contract - Risto, Bogo, Gorges and McCabe. COST: 16 million  Add Guhle for a 5th D for another 703K

RFAs None ; UFAs (4) - Kulikov, Franson, Falk and Fedun.

 

Goalies - None

RFAs Lehner and Ullmark; UFA - Nilsson

 

At a minimum we have 12 players under contract for next season for 47 million (cap hit); GMTM might say with Carrier and Guhle; we have 14 players for 48.3.  

 

There is a very good chance that one or more of the 12 forwards under contract or RFAs won't be here next season.  Regardless, I think we have the money to give him a one year deal at $3 mill without endangering our ability to retain other players we need to re-sign for next season.  

 

However let's assume for arguments sake that that Guhle and Carrier make the team next season and that Nilsson, Lehner, Foligno, and Larsson are re-signed.

That puts us at 48.3 + $3 million (for Foligno), $3.5 (for Larsson), $4 (for Lehner) and $2 (Nilsson).  Now we are at 11 forwards, 5D, 2G for 60.8, with 4-5 roster spots left.  That leaves two forward spots including a 4th line center (with Nick being demoted to 13th forward), and 2-3 D slots including a depth player (or 2), and an opening for a 2nd line puck mover to replace Kulikov.  

 

Cost 4-5 mill for the puck moving D, 750K to 1mill each for the depth C and D. So with a 22 man roster add another 7 mill max for these 3 players which put us at 67.8 mill for 21 players. Under this scenario, $3 mill for Gionta would fit easily under the cap, which should move up some from this season's 73.

 

A couple of other notes:  I somewhat agree with an earlier post that said wait til later in the season to see if he worth keeping. Certainly, GMTM is not going to re-sign him now with 2/3 of the season left and expansion on the distant horizon.  However, his play YTD has made something that was highly unlikely at the start of the season, seem not only possible, but maybe a wise move by GMTM.  I also think there is a possible trade at the deadline and re-sign in the off-season possibility if he wants a shot at a Cup and we are out of it at the deadline.   

Edited December 19, 2016 by GASabresIUFAN