Fact or Fiction: Is Bobby Holik worth $9 million?

Please refrain from using the argument that athletes simply make too much money. There is no frame of reference to engage in substantive banter on the subject; it’s all subjective.

If I asked you to place your head between a garage door and a cement sidewalk, and have the door be slammed on top of your head one-hundred times, how much money would it take? Exactly – it’s a circular argument with no factual conclusion.

But, one can look at the money Bobby Holik received this summer from the New York Rangers, and form conclusions on whether the player merited his salary in comparison to other players in the league.

Uh-oh, a new way to measure player value

Most free agent disasters emerge when a needy team overpays to secure the best available talent that happens to be a mediocre player. A good example of this phenomenon is when New York signed Stephane Quintal and Sylvain Lefevbre during their last free agent plunge. Ugh.

But FOF argues that Bobby Holik is the best physical two-way center in the league. The problem is, his value rests heavily in the intangibles. He’ll win faceoffs. He’ll shut down any star forward. He’ll dominate the game physically. And he’ll also put up 50-60 points per season.

Now why does this bother GM’s so much? Simple: it takes control away from them. Scoring is the easiest statistic to determine a player’s worth. But it is also the easiest way for GM’s to keep down a player’s salary. New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, for instance, is notorious for minimizing ice time and power play time to keep a player’s stats down in the regular season.

Hockey Value? It’s a clear-cut case

Lou Lamoriello will regret the day he let Bobby Holik get away, while doling out funds for aging defenseman Scott Stevens and goaltender Martin Brodeur. While there are plenty of other stud defensemen and solid netminders in the league, there are not many of Bobby Holik’s type, and none that surpass him in ability and results.

Who is better than Holik at the two-way game? Brind’Amour (Carolina)? Jason Weimer (Islanders)? Travis Green (Toronto)? Michal Handzus (Philly)?

Not in our book. Holik is the best at his position.

Business Value

The problem is that placing a high dollar value on his intangibles scares the heck out of general managers. They can stop a player from padding his scoring stats, but they won’t stop a guy from doing the tasks that put wins on the board and playoff revenue in their pockets.

What results are owners interested in?

Owners spend to keep their team in playoff contention during the season, to ensure fan interest, and to go as deep into the playoffs as possible for additional revenue.

It is not homerism to suggest that the acquisition of Bobby Holik greatly increases the Rangers’ chances at both of those goals. It is also reasonable to argue that, other than Joe Sakic last summer, Bobby Holik is the player best capable of reaching those goals out of any free agent forward in the last three years. Should his salary not reflect that impact on the team, or are goals and assists the only factor in deciding salary?

But, $9 million?

Well, it’s a seven million dollar salary and a signing bonus, but let’s not split hairs. We’ll call it $9 million. Is this fiscal insanity?

- FOF would choose Holik over Guerin given the same $9 million salary.
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over Scott Stevens at $7 million
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over Chris Chelios at $6 million
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over Doug Weight at $9 million
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over Rob Blake at $9.2 million
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over Jeremy Roenick at $8.5 million
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over Niklas Lidstrom at $10.5 million
- FOF would choose Holik at $9 million over John LeClair at $9 million

Now, marketability…

Look, the guy isn’t going to be getting his face on a Wheaties cereal box anytime soon with that mug, but that something his agent can worry about.

Proof will be on the ice

If the Rangers vault to the top of the standings and the Devils fade from view, it would be simplistic to say that Bobby Holik is the sole reason for that movement. But it would also be myopic to continue to say that Bobby Holik isn’t worth his salary.

-Gabe

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