Should MacKenzie Weegar Fire His Agent?
With the 2022-23 NHL Season rapidly approaching, the Flames are trying their damn best to get MacKenzie Weegar signed prior to the start of the season. General manager Brad Treliving has pulled miracles to save this upcoming Flames season. Getting Weegar signed to an extension might be his biggest accomplishment and that’s saying something.
The Flames have already gotten Jonathan Huberdeau to commit to staying. Next up is getting Weegar is sign an extension. Early reports have indicated that the Hampus Lindholm extension with Boston is going to be a measuring stick for contract talks with Weegar. I’m sorry, but if Weegar’s agent has him sign that contract, he needs to be fired on the spot.
Lindholm doesn’t come close to the caliber player that Weegar is. Yes, Weegar has his fair share of playoff plunders. However, total body of work? This dude is simply one of the best in the game and holding his prior cap hit against him is a flawed process.
Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin are nice players but Weegar is without question the cream of the crop in the new made Flames defense core. Weegar thrives at both ends of the ice. He’s a true game changer back there and I don’t what to know what Florida’s defense looks like without him.
Weegar ranked 2nd in the league a year ago in blocked passes per game. The other four names on that list are about as elite as it gets. Everything is here with Weegar. The former Panthers defensemen notched a 58.3 CF% across 23:22 minutes of ice time per game last year. We’re talking about a guy that posted 17 points in 19 games that Aaron Ekblad missed a season ago. Without Weegar, Florida simply does not win the President’s Trophy in 2021.
Overall, Weegar posted 44 points on the season for Florida. Lindholm was at 27 points between Anaheim and Boston. Lindholm CF% was 49.2 a season ago. They’re not the same player. Weegar would be doing Calgary a huge favor by taking a Lindholm deal because he’s just flat out way better.
Weegar, 28, is still plenty young enough to command a monster deal in free agency. There is no reason why he can’t repeat this performance playing for Daryl Suter now. There is no reason why Weegar can’t command this Flames unit the way he did in Florida. Lindholm money isn’t enough.
If you’re reading this MacKenzie Weegar, please fire your agent. I promise I can do way better for you and you won’t even have to deal with the Canadian tax if we bounce in free agency. I’ll get you more money. That’s a promise. Let’s play out the year and see what happens.
