Colorado Avalanche: Evaluating the AJ Greer Contract Signing
The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed feisty forward AJ Greer to a one-year contract. Is this a show-me contract?
The Colorado Avalanche organization has re-signed restricted free agent forward A.J. Greer to a one-year, two-way contract. His NHL salary is worth $735,000, while he’ll make $90,000 at the NHL level. While the NHL salary is a slight decrease from last year’s $741,666, the AHL salary is up $20,000.
And now it’s time to take a cold, hard look at the fact that the AHL raise might ultimately benefit Greer more. In other words, he might not spend meaningful time with the NHL club.
Part of that cold, hard look needs to be aimed at the reason for Greer’s languishing in the AHL.
AJ has played in 37 NHL games, all with the Avalanche. Granted, he’s just recorded one goal and five assists. However, his average time on ice is just over seven minutes — six for last season — all on the fourth line. You can’t expect a player to produce much in that situation.
Here’s his first NHL goal:
At the AHL level, he’s certainly been more productive. Last season, in 54 games, he recorded 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists). In all he’s played 152 AHL games, recording 95 points (42 goals, 53 assists). That’s pretty worthy for a player to get a better shot in the NHL.
What’s more, Greer isn’t meant to be a big points-producer. He’s an agitator, a heart-and-soul kind of player. And, yes, there’s still a place for such players even in the modern NHL — it’s still hockey.
Whispers are starting to come out that the problem is more off the ice.
I didn’t report the matter on this site because I didn’t want to add fuel to what seems to me to be a very tiny flame. However, in early July, Greer was arrested for assault in New York City.
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According to numerous reports, Greer and fellow fringe NHLer Sonny Milano were out on the town in New York. They started at a restaurant in Manhatten and continued at a Chelsea nightclub called 1 Oak. The two were then in an apartment in Greenwich Village together with an unidentified 28-year-old man.
In the wee hours of the morning, an altercation allegedly broke out between the two players and the man. Reportedly, the argument was over the bill at 1 Oak. The result of the altercation was minor injuries (jaw and rib pain, injuries to the neck and bicep) to the unidentified man.
Greer and Milano were arrested. They were released shortly afterward and given desk appearance tickets, which sets a court date. They were charged with third-degree assault. TMZ has since reported that Greer’s statement to the police included, “He got in our face.”
That was the least-surprising thing I heard. No one has said, but I’m willing to bet alcohol was involved. I’ve seen enough bar brawls — and fan brawls at games — to imagine how the situation went down. I’d be willing to bet money some version of “You think you’re big, bad hockey players?” came out of the unidentified man’s mouth.
I’d also like to point out incidents like this happen every single night. You only hear about this one because Greer and Milano are professional athletes.
Anyway, supposition aside, Greer’s court date is set for September 4.
The legal situation isn’t the main catalyst for why Greer hasn’t been given a proper shot in the NHL — after all, the lack of said shot precedes the legal woe. However, according to BSN’s AJ Haefele, questions have been around concerning Greer’s maturity. He’s 22.
Well, the assault situation certainly does lend itself to that narrative. Something that doesn’t is the fact that two years ago Greer was awarded the AHL Man of the Year award because of his contributions to the San Antonio community.
Video about the award:
Cole's Season in Review. dark. Next
I like AJ Greer. I like what he can bring to the Colorado Avalanche. Do I think he might be a little immature? He’s a 22-year-old male — of course he’s immature.
Unfortunately, and this is where that coldness and hardness of a look return, the fact that I think Greer is cool, if understandably immature, doesn’t mean he’s a good fit for the Avalanche.
That’s why the raise at the AHL level may ultimately benefit Greer more.