Quoting: mokumboi
Well now, that's rather misleading. His performance has fallen off a table the last two seasons. Undeserved is unreasonable. Same basket. And nobody is paying extra for "ceiling" in a 25 yo that has lost his game. Well... maybe Buffalo (or perhaps more aptly, whomever hires Jason Botteril next).
The last 2 seasons barely equals a full season. He’s played 75 games in that span. 11g 16a. He’s also dealt with concussion, depression, covid 3 times, fighting with coach, forced to play off-wing out of necessity where he sucks, demoted after Hall trade losing PT and better linemates. His play as of late has been really good, creating chances, even playing D, given PK time.
As far as the QO goes, it depends on who has him how it will play out.
His current production puts him at a 2 to 2.5 type of slot. His career totals are right in line with his QO.
What would be worse. Giving him the QO, him accepting, and getting the same production…for 1 year. Or letting him walk, getting nothing for him and watching him put up 25 for someone else?
From Boston perspective, the scenarios are:
No offer, he walks, lose him for nothing.
QO, he accepts. It’s 700k raise for 1 year to see if he bounces back.
QO, declines. They retain matching rights. Can sign him for whatever. Or trade his rights to someone now that the QO and 4.4 are off the table.
There is really only 1 losing scenario there. 🤷🏻♂️
An aquiring team has another option, an extension before the QO at lesser cap hit.