cross16

Didn't play it that cool. It was very well known that Kawhi wanted to play in LA and they never really engaged with the Raptors in any serious way. From the day they acquired him it was pretty well reported it was going to be a one and done scenario as he had originally wanted to go to LA when he was traded. There were even some fears when the deal went down Kawhi wasn't going to report.

It's hard to say. All of the public comments around Ellis were that he thought he'd be ready to go for next season. It's been very quiet on Couturier but at the time of the injury it didn't sound like something that would put him on LTIR for that long. You'd need them on LTIR for pretty much the season to make Gaudreau work. No indications i've seen that it's the case with either player but hard to know.

I don't dispute the Devils would have interest in Tkachuk. I don't think they would go the offer sheet route (cost is too high) and what I really don't understand is the idea Tkachuk is going to do a one year offer sheet and then sign long term a year later. That strategy makes no sense.

He's actually not, they are cousins. Not only is that not allowed what does either side gain from that strategy?

Nor will any team offer him one. No team is going to give up that type of draft capital for a player who is 1 year away from UFA. The difference in Kotkaniemi is he was still an RFA. Canes weren't giving up those assets with the risk of losing him 1 year later. Should also be pointed out that Montreal could have kept him if they wanted to. They chose not to accept the offer because they didn't feel he was worth it and they were also able to acquire Dvorak who they liked more (at the time)

No surprises here.

#1 no I don't believe the "rumors" #2. This is really simple IMO. The Flames would match at anything 10.5 or less and at 10.5 or above is when they would start to question it and as I said I don't think any team is giving up 4 st round picks for Tkacuk. The only reason to fear an offer sheet IMO is if a team gives your player one you cannot afford to match. I don't see that scenario playing out here.

I don't get the offer sheet concerns with Tkachuk. Up to 8.4 million the cost is a 1, 2 and a 3. I think a team would do that for Tkachuk but Flames would match in a heartbeat. 8.4 to 10.5 is 2 1,s a 2 and a 3. Do we really see a team doing that? Even at 10.5 the Flames don't match? Also worth noting the only teams that can make this offer are: Anaheim, Arizona, Carolina, Chicago, CBJ, DET, EdM, LA, Mon, Nsh, NJ, NYI, Ott, SEA and VAN. I think it's safe to say that ANA, ARI, CHI, DET, MON are not going to make that offer. CBJ can't unless they are moving on from Laine. EDM can but that would really mess up their pursuit of a goalie. LA doesn't have the cap space, NSH likely doesn't have the budget, and the NYI would have to clear space to make that offer. So realistically you might have Carolina, NJ, OTT and SEA that are in a position to do this. I'd question why Tkachuk would want to sign in SEA (and honestly OTT for that matter) and this would be a very odd move for Carolina to make. End of the day we are not talking about a huge market here. If you are going past 10.5 your talking 4 1st round picks and I definitely do not see a team giving you 4 1sts for Tkachuk. I don't get the fear here. Not to mention that if Gaudreau walks those draft picks start to look pretty enticing

Been lots of suggestions they are still trying to move cap.

I think if it were that easy it would be done by now. There are rumors going back to the TDL that Philly has been looking to move Provorov but are not finding takers. And looking at what it cost the Oilers to move Kassian I think the price would be very high to dump JVR. I think it's challenging because they can't eat any money they need to move the full cap hit of JVR and only have probably 2-3 teams that can do that.

Ya i'm in the camp this is about Philly and Philly vs Calgary. I think he'd be happy to play in either but obviously drawn to Philly but they need to clear cap room and are likely have problems doing that. It doesn't really make sense to me that this is about $.

The Deangelo deal and contract I think make it pretty unlikely that Philly can offer Gaudreau a deal. They’d have to clear probably 2-3 players and probably 12-13 mill plus. That’s seems very unlikely to do in a matter of days.

I’m not sure it does to be honest. If anything it puts more pressure on the Flames as a plan B option is now gone. comparable don’t matter too much in the UFA market.

and to clarify my expectations were too and I really don’t want to make it seem like this is an issue. I do think they deserve the benefit of the doubt. I just don’t like the profile they went after. Hardly the end of the world though.

They didn’t have picks so not like my expectations were high but this is a disappointing looking draft from the Flames. I don’t think they got good value with any of their picks. Could be wrong and their amateur side does have a good track record but I’m not really excited about anyone they took. A disappointing draft

if he is more talented and has more upside absolutely. When you have so few picks I think you need to target talent because it has the better chance of getting you an asset down the road.

I just hope the Flames take some swings. I don't care if 5 years from now they have no one left from this draft I just don't want to see them take "safer" prospects and try and justify it that they tried to salvage something. Take a swing on talent that drops. I'm not a huge fan of this draft but their is talent scattered throughout it.

While I remain highly doubtful that pick was in play for Tkachuk i'm not really a fan of the blaming Gaudreau here. he is simply exercising his rights and rights that he has earned. I get the situation sucks but honestly i point the finger at the Flames who never should have let it get to this point if they deemed Gaudreau a franchise player (which they clearly do based on their pitch). I don't mind them waiting it out but if they are turning down deals waiting for him that is their call not Gaudreau's.

perhaps but I think they just wanted dman. Only 3 under contract for next season and 4 if you include Dobson. They needed depth there i just think they gave up too much but I’m not really a fan of Romonov

I’m not sure either are elite but starting your franchise with Wright and Berniers is pretty solid for the Kraken have no idea what the Islanders are doing. That’s an awful move.

Looks like Coyotes are passing on Wright too. feels like this is being over thought by clubs. This feels like Couturier all over again.

I’m less surprised by that pick than I am number 1. Devils needed D and while I like Wright im not sure he is the level of player you have to take over a player you need more. good fortunate for the Coyotes though. Assuming they take Wright that’s two years in a row good building blocks will have fallen to them.

Provided they can get him to sign I think they just added to their core with a better asset than they were going to get at 7. This type of deal makes sense to me for clubs that are rebuilding because at least your adding a high end talent

FWIW Seravelli was just in the Fan and backtracked a little on how confident he was this morning. this whole thing feels like there is no news to report and people are running with whatever they got to try and garner a story.

not that uncommon that when RFAs like this are dealt GMs allow extension talks to happen as part of the trade. Especially with these type of assets in play.