Canes Sign Kotkaniemi To Offer Sheet/Habs Don't Match
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CanadaCanes
Well-known member
OK, let's get real about the pettiness in this offer sheet. The $20 signing bonus WAS petty. The $15 tacked onto the end of the contract amount was less petty, but still very cutsie for "serious people" (hint, this is sports and these GMs are not rocket scientists, so serious is always optional). The language used in the press release that mirrors what Bergevin said during the Aho offer sheet period is the real, pro wrestling level pettiness bomb. That's pure unadulterated "screw with me and I'll screw with you right back" stuff.
The offer sheet itself may be predicated on revenge a bit, but it is 100% NOT petty. By all accounts Carolina had engaged in efforts to trade to Kotkaniemi since the end of the season, and there was ample speculation that the player was done in Montreal. Forget the scratch in the Finals, he hasn't been served well there, from his first season being thrown to the wolves to his third season getting scapegoated in the playoffs. I think that system is a terrible fit for him and it's clear that all Montreal sees in his future is a role as a checking center. Apparently Montreal was asking more than a 1st and 3rd, otherwise why bother with this nonsense? And that's a bit nuts for a guy you obviously don't really value that much. So, Carolina's convinced KK is a good fit and that the system will unlock his upside, while Montreal has a negotiating problem AND cap problems ... so ... offer sheet.
Here's where it gets weird for me. You HAVE to overpay on the front end to make an offer sheet work, otherwise you just get Aho-ed. If you go short term and expose the kid to an arbitration eligible RFA cycle, you also HAVE to go over the threshold where you can walk away from an award ... to cover your butt. So, I get something above $4 million. I also get the short term. But $6 million and change makes no sense to me. That said, there's been some speculation that Carolina has a pre-loaded extension ready that would bring him down to a more realistic market rate in the future. If THAT's the way this is going, I'm all in. If all they're doing is betting $6 million that KK turns into your Jordan Staal replacement in two summers, then ... again, that's a big stretch.
The offer sheet itself may be predicated on revenge a bit, but it is 100% NOT petty. By all accounts Carolina had engaged in efforts to trade to Kotkaniemi since the end of the season, and there was ample speculation that the player was done in Montreal. Forget the scratch in the Finals, he hasn't been served well there, from his first season being thrown to the wolves to his third season getting scapegoated in the playoffs. I think that system is a terrible fit for him and it's clear that all Montreal sees in his future is a role as a checking center. Apparently Montreal was asking more than a 1st and 3rd, otherwise why bother with this nonsense? And that's a bit nuts for a guy you obviously don't really value that much. So, Carolina's convinced KK is a good fit and that the system will unlock his upside, while Montreal has a negotiating problem AND cap problems ... so ... offer sheet.
Here's where it gets weird for me. You HAVE to overpay on the front end to make an offer sheet work, otherwise you just get Aho-ed. If you go short term and expose the kid to an arbitration eligible RFA cycle, you also HAVE to go over the threshold where you can walk away from an award ... to cover your butt. So, I get something above $4 million. I also get the short term. But $6 million and change makes no sense to me. That said, there's been some speculation that Carolina has a pre-loaded extension ready that would bring him down to a more realistic market rate in the future. If THAT's the way this is going, I'm all in. If all they're doing is betting $6 million that KK turns into your Jordan Staal replacement in two summers, then ... again, that's a big stretch.
That's an option, but the deal would only put them $1.5 over the Cap ... carrying 13 forwards and 8 defensemen. That's fairly easy to fix.
cmaleski2
Well-known member
I'm just going to note here that the Canes need to be cautious about any sort of 'pre arranged' agreement on an extension. Now proof of course may be difficult, but CBA 26.3 very specifically calls out that there will be no side deals of any kind, including words like 'promises' and 'understandings' or 'expressed, implied, oral or written' format, including SPCs, QOs, etc. This is where the NHL can really clobber a club. Everyone best be very careful here. That isn't to say, as I have suggested, that the Canes could not extend KK for a lessor AAV on a longer term, but they better have their ducks in a row as to how they approach that.
cmaleski2
Well-known member
You take Necas and Lorentz off the roster for 5 seconds to put the Canes at about $81,450,000 AAV. Then you LTIR Gardiner, allowing for almost the full value of Gardiner's AAV to be used to 'exceed' the cap. Put Necas and Lorentz back on the roster and you have almost $2.5 million in 'extra cap room' to play with if needed
Why just the 1 year though? I'm trying to figure out why they wouldn't go longer term if they really want him.
Excellent stuff.
If they have a handshake deal in place to extend him on January 1st at say 4-6 years at around $4m a year... kudos to them. That could turn into an excellent value.
Habsy
Not playing around anymore.
Isn’t that what fans on internet boards do? Presume?
Still holding out hope for Philippe Paradis I see.
Why? He's Toronto's Problem we got Tlusty..
ThinIce
Well-known member
Ouch! That was a long time ago in galaxy far, far away.
Habsy
Not playing around anymore.
F’ing force. Always messing things up.
He was the consolation prize because the Habs drafted Louis LeBlanc at 18, who was the top forward on the Canes board.
SlapShots
Well-known member
Bergevin is a jerk! The offer sheet to Aho was weak— no 2nd thought to match it on the Canes side. Then drafting Logan Mailloux at 31st with some lame justification to help the player. Glad Bergevin has to figure out what to do— lucky they got to the final otherwise he’d been unemployed.
I'm reserving the right to come back here an gloat next year when KK is a UFA cause the Canes don't qualify him and the Habs are drafting in the top 10 with the Canes pick.
NoMich
Well-known member
Why will that be a top 10 pick? Are the Hurricanes planning on tanking or something? Oh wait, you're just being a troll. Nice work from a site Admin.I'm reserving the right to come back here an gloat next year when KK is a UFA cause the Canes don't qualify him and the Habs are drafting in the top 10 with the Canes pick.
That’s fair. But the pick from the Canes will be in the 20s.I'm reserving the right to come back here an gloat next year when KK is a UFA cause the Canes don't qualify him and the Habs are drafting in the top 10 with the Canes pick.
I mean, always reserve the right to gloat ... but you're tipping your hand. You know that pick ain't gonna be in the top ten.I'm reserving the right to come back here an gloat next year when KK is a UFA cause the Canes don't qualify him and the Habs are drafting in the top 10 with the Canes pick.
Carolina's "no good, very bad, horrible off-season" is the most overblown story on the hockey internet this summer. They've dropped a couple of games on the game score charts ... maybe ... whoopie doo.
Habsy
Not playing around anymore.
Firstly, he’s joking with guys we post with on the other boards. Secondly, injuries happen.