Quoting: Eli
Thanks.
I actually don't think 5.5 is impossible for Gudas, if he plays the year with Orlov or Carlson, and hits 30 points, while still playing great defense and dishing a ton of hits, but with his previous career high of 20, he could also be looking in the range of 3 to 4, realistically. If he plays with Reilly, he might even hit forty a year, though, so if Toronto wants to trade Kapanen for him now, and sign him at 4x4, they'll save a ton of money, and add some very necessary tougness.
(sorry I deleted my previous, longer comment. It was dumb).
That is a TERRIBLE contract.
First off his d isn't that good. He is physical for sure which some seem to think equals good d but it doesn't necessarily indicated that.
But more importantly the guy has never been a top 4 d in his career (he may have crept up to 4th on a team once or twice). He is a number 5 defenseman. Always has been.
A top 4 d man plays in the top 4 in minutes and against top 4 opposition. He simply hasn't in his career.
He's an 18 minute a night defenseman. That's a good 3rd pairing defenseman.
He CERTAINLY does not deserve over 4 million, let alone 5.5 million.