Not sure how you define “Goal Scorer” but anyone who can lead the Hawks in Playoff goals would be a “Goal Scorer” in my book. And playoff performance is not indicative of skill? It’s the playoffs that matter most. Now, one playoff may not be indicative of long term performance, but when Bickell has been given a chance in the top 6 he has scored regularly. This season, altho not in the top 6 all season, he scored 9 goals which in half a season extrapolates to 18 goals for a full season. If he spent the whole season in the top 6 I’d expect him to score at least 20 goals and be a force in the playoffs again.
That being said, Clarkson has scored 30 goals and extrapolating this season’s 15 to a full season – there is a pattern of 30 goal capability.
I wouldn’t want to pay Bickell $5 M but I’d give him $ 4M for 3. Clarkson I’d go as high as $5 M.
I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.

I hear what you’re saying, Nick. We’ve definitely seen our share of one hit wonders over the years. but I don’t think Bickell is one of them. As far as I know he has never played top 6 minutes before this season. Franzen’s numbers his first two seasons (as a checking line guy) were 12 goals, 10 goals. Once he got a chance on the top 2 lines and his role changed, he flourished. Only time will tell though.
Clarkson however scored 30 last year and would’ve done the same this year if he scored at the same pace over a full season. I think I’d still pick Clarkson between the two. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Whew! You had me scared there, Michael. :>)

With the easy caveat that I do not like Sammy or his contract? I’d take one year of Sammy at 3 versus 4 or 5 years of Bickell at 4.

Where would Bickell play? Top 6? Do we need another, worse skating, less defensively reliable Abdelkader up there? Bickell is NOT a scorer.

‘10-’11 Reg Season 17 goals
‘10-’11 Playoffs 2 goals
‘11-’12 Reg Season 9 goals
‘11-’12 Playoffs 2 goals
‘12’-13 Reg Season 9 goals
‘12-’13 Playoffs 8 goals

The playoffs earn guys big paychecks, but they are not indicative of skill. This year’s playoff run for him is clearly an aberration. Giving contracts to guys like that is dangerous, and blows up in teams’ faces much more often than not.

I feel like this response seems argumentative, I apologize if that’s how it reads. Certainly didn’t mean it that way.

Also, he’s listed under the “UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS” section right by his name in all caps.

To be clear, I wasn’t making a proclamation about the roster. That’s who’s signed right now (or we know will be because they’re RFAs). Something absolutely has to happen (as I stated in the part of the article that WASN’T just names listed) to improve this roster and bring in outside help or they’re going to be stuck with the same group as this past year (and, for all intents and purposes, the year before and the year before and the…)

He’s an unrestricted free agent. Therefore, not listed.

So @Nick, would you rather have Sammy at $3 M or Bickell at $4?

If you’re going to refer to it as a “moneyball” decision, you have to look at his career performance, not the SSS of an elimination playoff tournament.