Red Light Newsletter Update
The latest edition of the Red Light newsletter—your go-to source for NHL updates—has hit inboxes. This week, we navigate through a sparse landscape of news but still find ourselves engrossed in discussions around contracts, Hall of Fame considerations, and a touch of creativity with some fictional awards.
Contract Evaluations
Let’s kick things off with an intriguing analysis by Dom Luszczyszyn, who recently unveiled his evaluation of the NHL’s best and worst contracts. The top-ranked agreement, attributed to a young player who locked in an $8 million deal back in 2021, serves as a reminder of how unpredictable player performance can be, particularly when juxtaposed against fluctuating salary cap figures. Surprisingly, the list affirms that analytics can struggle to fully grasp a player’s impact—much to the chagrin of fans who think highly of their favorite stars.
The real entertainment, however, lies in the rundown of the most egregious contracts in the league. Surprisingly, four of the five worst deals were signed within the past year, suggesting that while NHL general managers are becoming more astute, there’s still plenty of room for error. If you’re intrigued by the analytics debate, Dom’s commentary on Sam Bennett exemplifies the delightful clash of man versus machine in sports evaluation.
Hall of Fame Discussions
On another note, as a self-proclaimed advocate for Hall of Fame conversations, I couldn’t ignore Peter Baugh’s latest piece assessing the status of current players. His tiers mostly hit the mark, though I might rearrange a few names—like placing Ryan Miller over Jonathan Quick given Miller’s absence from the Hall.
However, what genuinely stuck with me is the impending Cory Perry Hall of Fame debate that looms ahead. As Perry approaches the end of his career at age 40 and potentially finishes with a career tally of fewer than 500 goals and 1,000 points, the discourse around his candidacy becomes more complex. Perry once took home the Hart Trophy, a feat that no forward has achieved without later grace of the Hall, complicating the discussion further since not everyone supports his MVP acclaim in the first place.
His storied yet contentious legacy—a mix of championship success, Olympic victories, and polarizing on-ice antics—will fuel ongoing debates about his worthiness. I can’t help but wonder if boosting his numbers this season could ease those discussions or lead to an even fiercer evaluation when his name appears on the ballot in summer 2029.
Recent Inductees and Other News
Highlighting trends among recent inductees, the 2020s saw a diverse array of tenures in the NHL. A notable anomaly among the 19 players inducted as of now is Roberto Luongo, who uniquely suited up for just three franchises: the Islanders, Canucks, and Panthers.
In other news, the Jets have successfully negotiated a three-year contract with Dylan Samberg, avoiding the arbitration process that could have cast the defenseman’s value in a light not favorable to the team’s assessment.
Fictional Awards
Lastly, while not strictly hockey-related, I inadvertently conjured a fictional ‘Thornton Award’ which recognizes players making standout debuts with new teams—ideal for a slow news cycle during the offseason. To place this into context, the past shines with remarkable debut seasons, none more illustrious than Wayne Gretzky’s legendary 1988-89 campaign, which has now earned him this imaginative recognition.
Keep your eyes peeled for the ongoing conversations regarding the Hall, contract negotiations, and of course, my latest fictional endeavors in the realm of hockey reporting.
