Around the League - 2024-2025 Part II

[Sypher04]

Friedman has said Ranta is asking for the Draisaitl deal. If Sakic won't go more than MacKinnon, there is nothing to negotiate. Hard to believe Sakic won't pay a guy who helped win him a Cup but the Leafs are happy to overpay Marner more than MacKinnon who has won them f*** all.

Negotiations always start high. There’s nothing to currently support the thought process that Rantanen wouldn’t come down from that price. As I already laid out, at the time they were negotiating the Avs were the only team that could do 8 years, which means the deal would never have needed to end around $14 mil in Colorado to pay him comparably to how he’d likely want on the open market. It probably would have taken a while yet, but if they had offered MacKinnons 12.6 I’m willing to bet the deal would have gotten done eventually. The only thing this bought them imo was earlier cost certainty and a much lesser player

 

[francis246]

Also, I don't believe for a second that if he was asking for $14 million that he would chosen to stick to that. $14 million on the open market at 7 years would be $98 mil. Divide that over the 8 years that only the Avs could offer and it’s $12.25 million. They would have eventually come to terms well under 13 million I bet.

This to me appears to be a very poor decision

Especially with them not knowing what Landeskog will be like after he finally is able to return

I posted this in the Marner thread but this move seems more like a culture change compared to a “cap related move”. I think they just decided he’s not a fit for whatever they are building. Because as you pointed out, on an 8 year deal they could have made the money work. But something he may have said or done could have turned the organization off from him.

 

[TheShape]

All of this is true, and I don't disagree with the sentiment/team position either.

But there's also no denying they they made a choice to lose a prime asset while trying to be competitive while their best player is still in his peak/prime.

I think having s consistent team philosophy/position on stuff like this is likely for the best. But it'll take a bit of time to evaluate if the right call was made here

No sane person would argue the Avs are a better team on paper today than yesterday, but they didn't just lose a prime asset. Necas is a helluva consolation prize, he's no Rantanen but he's a legit plug and play 1st line RW under cost control. Tough decision, but this is asset management 101. Pretty good return on a guy who is bolting in 4 months anyway. People (not saying you) are acting as if the Avs gave this guy away for a 4th round pick.

Nobody thinks they are, but doesn’t change the fact they’ve weakened their team significantly. I reject the idea that’s awesome for them.

It's awesome for the culture. There's a bigger picture here and they're playing the long game. Again, the Avs aren't done, this isn't going to be their roster heading into the playoffs.

 

[Jojalu]

My premature over reaction to the Rantanen trade is Mack has no points after 59 minutes without him.

Trade a disaster. Rantanen obviously carried Mack

 

[ToneDog]

I posted this in the Marner thread but this move seems more like a culture change compared to a “cap related move”. I think they just decided he’s not a fit for whatever they are building. Because as you pointed out, on an 8 year deal they could have made the money work. But something he may have said or done could have turned the organization off from him.

The money could never work if Sakic refused to pay him more than MacKinnon. It might be that simple.

 

[fahad203]

My premature over reaction to the Rantanen trade is Mack has no points after 59 minutes without him.

Trade a disaster. Rantanen obviously carried Mack

100 point player for a player who has never been a points per game player until this year.
That's crazy

Miko's playoff numbers are unreal

 

[Metroid]

Looked like the avs could have used some scoring this game .

Would have been nice for bruins to lose.

 

[ToneDog]

Looked like the avs could have used some scoring this game .

Would have been nice for bruins to lose.

Pasta is on fire.

 

[fahad203]

Pasta is on fire.

View attachment 967111

Him and Nylander were absolute robberies in 2014 draft

 

[Jojalu]

The money could never work if Sakic refused to pay him more than MacKinnon. It might be that simple.

Seems like that was the thought process but I question the logic.

Mack signed in 2022. Cap has risen almost 11 million since then( if it goes 5 this year)

Total number seems shortsighted rather than looking at %.

If it was a problem for Mack personally not to be the higheat paid player I think that speaks more about Mack no?

 

[Jojalu]

Pit was pretty much dead but the Ducks loss, plus now losing to the Kraken seems like nail in coffin no?

Is Crosby going to waive the white flag?

 

[BallardEra]

Pit was pretty much dead but the Ducks loss, plus now losing to the Kraken seems like nail in coffin no?

Is Crosby going to waive the white flag?

Crosby signed for 2 years after this season is done because he believed that the Pens could still compete.

Next year he’s 38 as is Letang and Malkin is 39. Those guys are all on the decline at varying levels and then they still have Karlsson too.

 

[SprDaVE]

Pit was pretty much dead but the Ducks loss, plus now losing to the Kraken seems like nail in coffin no?

Is Crosby going to waive the white flag?

He seems pretty content in staying there and retiring. I'd give it a low chance he moves. Same for Letang. I do see Malkin having a better chance at chasing another cup, especially if it's with the Caps.

 

[ManosArriba]

I can't see Rantanen resigning in Carolina with his salary demands, they don't have any players making over $10 Million.

 

[Jojalu]

He seems pretty content in staying there and retiring. I'd give it a low chance he moves. Same for Letang. I do see Malkin having a better chance at chasing another cup, especially if it's with the Caps.

I think I love the idea of Malkin and Ovie together for a playoff run.

 

[BallardEra]

He seems pretty content in staying there and retiring. I'd give it a low chance he moves. Same for Letang. I do see Malkin having a better chance at chasing another cup, especially if it's with the Caps.

Malkin said he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He also got injured today as well.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/opinion-evgeni-malkin-staying-with-penguins-feels-like-mats-sundin-staying-with-maple-leafs

 

[Jojalu]

Malkin said he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He also got injured today as well.

https://thehockeynews.com/news/opinion-evgeni-malkin-staying-with-penguins-feels-like-mats-sundin-staying-with-maple-leafs

Are they all loyal enough to say that to the public?

I 100% would understand if they all decided to stay in Pit to have their whole career together but won't their competitve side win in the end?

 

[BallardEra]

Are they all loyal enough to say that to the public?

I 100% would understand if they all decided to stay in Pit to have their whole career together but won't their competitve side win in the end?

Maybe at this point they are content after having won 3 Cups? Next year will definitely be Malkin’s last year for sure.

 

[-DeMo-]

Negotiations always start high. There’s nothing to currently support the thought process that Rantanen wouldn’t come down from that price. As I already laid out, at the time they were negotiating the Avs were the only team that could do 8 years, which means the deal would never have needed to end around $14 mil in Colorado to pay him comparably to how he’d likely want on the open market. It probably would have taken a while yet, but if they had offered MacKinnons 12.6 I’m willing to bet the deal would have gotten done eventually. The only thing this bought them imo was earlier cost certainty and a much lesser player

don't see why Rantanen would settle around 12.6 that's like 100-101 million over 8 years vs 98 over 7 years if he was at 14 million he would only need to earn 4 million on his next contract to make it more beneficial to take the 7 year deal money wise. based on where the cap is going that probably is an average 3rd liner in 7 years. risking 2-3 million to potentially make 10-16 million per season depending on his play after seven years if there's only a small amount of regression makes a lot of sense why you wouldn't take that deal if your Rantanen.

 

[Sypher04]

don't see why Rantanen would settle around 12.6 that's like 100-101 million over 8 years vs 98 over 7 years if he was at 14 million he would only need to earn 4 million on his next contract to make it more beneficial to take the 7 year deal money wise. based on where the cap is going that probably is an average 3rd liner in 7 years. risking 2-3 million to potentially make 10-16 million per season depending on his play after seven years if there's only a small amount of regression makes a lot of sense why you wouldn't take that deal if your Rantanen.

At 12.6x8 with the Avs he probably leaves only a few million on the table vs 14x7 + one like 36 year old season and he would get to stay with the team he has won the cup with, playing on the same line with one of the top 5 players in the world. I really doubt those few million matter that much

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

Funny how nobody saw this trade coming, not even Eliotte Shekelman.

 

[-DeMo-]

At 12.6x8 with the Avs he probably leaves only a few million on the table vs 14x7 + one like 36 year old season and he would get to stay with the team he has won the cup with, playing on the same line with one of the top 5 players in the world. I really doubt those few million matter that much

it;s not only that because at 35 he'd be more likely to get more term on his next deal then at 36, as well as a higher AAV because he should be a better player at 35 then 36 or at worst the same player. so potential earnings are higher with the 7 year deal under your contract offer. all while like I said only risking 2-3 million.

also you talk like it's only a few million if Rantanen continues to be the player he is and can re-sign after the 7 year deal for 10-12 million a year that's an 8-10 million dollar loss.

 

[ToneDog]

At 12.6x8 with the Avs he probably leaves only a few million on the table vs 14x7 + one like 36 year old season and he would get to stay with the team he has won the cup with, playing on the same line with one of the top 5 players in the world. I really doubt those few million matter that much

Friedge just said Avs were willing to make him the highest paid winger in the league and were offering 11.75m. Pretty much explains why Sakic moved him. They were never signing him.

Leafs willing to go to $13m with Marner. LOL.

 

[Sypher04]

Friedge just said Avs were willing to make him the highest paid winger in the league and were offering 11.75m. Pretty much explains why Sakic moved him. They were never signing him.

Leafs willing to go to $13m with Marner. LOL.

Which lines up with my initial assessment that Colorado must not have been offering him the MacKinnon deal.

I’d be shocked if 12.6 hadn’t got it done

As for your marner comment, Friedman also said this indicates to him that this means Colorado will operate with an internal cap - that they won’t be a $100M roster when the cap goes that high. If that’s the directive, Sakic’s hands were tied I suppose

 

[ToneDog]

Which lines up with my initial assessment that Colorado must not have been offering him the MacKinnon deal.

I’d be shocked if 12.6 hadn’t got it done

As for your marner comment, Friedman also said this indicates to him that this means Colorado will operate with an internal cap

One would think they could have made $12.5m work. An offer of 11.5m is low balling him again. No idea what Sakic was thinking.