Around the League: Hockey Is In the Air...

[Trapper]

Stars are the front-runner to acquire Erik Karlsson

So the Sens offered Karlsson 10 million/year and then within a few days other teams are being given permission to talk to his agent.
Were the Sens even planning on negotiating or was this is the offer kind of deal? Did they expect him to take less than Doughty?
Look everyone, we made an offer. Not our fault.

 

[BertCorbeau]

So the Sens offered Karlsson 10 million/year and then within a few days other teams are being given permission to talk to his agent.
Were the Sens even planning on negotiating or was this is the offer kind of deal? Did they expect him to take less than Doughty?
Look everyone, we made an offer. Not our fault.

Pretty much. It’s a half-assed offer intent to cover their asses for claims that they wouldn’t pay him anything substantial. Except that it’s such an obvious ploy that it really does show that they are not seriously going to re-sign him. Therefore it’s clear EK will be dealt, the question is when. I imagine sometime in the next week, maybe as early as the weekend.

 

[Brobust]

Jeez, get it over with and trade Karlsson to the western conference already.

Dorion really bungled the situation.

Trade Karlsson at the draft, give your pick to the Avs. Tank for Hughes. How ******* difficult is it to make this simple decision?

You're not going to get a return close to what he's worth but at this point they need to rip the bandaid off and think about the future.

 

[Trapper]

Jeez, get it over with and trade Karlsson to the western conference already.

Dorion really bungled the situation.

Trade Karlsson at the draft, give your pick to the Avs. Tank for Hughes. How ******* difficult is it to make this simple decision?

You're not going to get a return close to what he's worth but at this point they need to rip the bandaid off and think about the future.

That was another thing about their draft pick.
No offense to Tkachuk but he's not a center, not a stud D, and not even a Kucherov type 40 goal scoring winger.
They could have dealt the pick knowing they will probably be worse next year.

 

[Menzinger]

If EK is traded, that likely means ownership is going to have to sell the franchise, because that would likely kill relations with their fanbase

 

[Buds17]

That was another thing about their draft pick.
No offense to Tkachuk but he's not a center, not a stud D, and not even a Kucherov type 40 goal scoring winger.
They could have dealt the pick knowing they will probably be worse next year.

There were already rumours of Karlsson being close to being dealt at the trade deadline, so I figured giving up the Tkachuk pick would've been the path taken. Still not sure how they changed course from trading for Duchene to trading away non-UFAs at the deadline to this so quickly.

 

[Daisy Jane]

That was another thing about their draft pick.
No offense to Tkachuk but he's not a center, not a stud D, and not even a Kucherov type 40 goal scoring winger.
They could have dealt the pick knowing they will probably be worse next year.

he's not even a centre?

 

[Daisy Jane]

If EK is traded, that likely means ownership is going to have to sell the franchise, because that would likely kill relations with their fanbase

i don't get the feeling Melnyk wants to.

 

[Trapper]

he's not even a centre?

No left wing.
Now it’s too early to judge a kid but still. Pretty high pick to use on intangibles.
No 1st next year which could be the lottery pick.

 

[Daisy Jane]

No left wing.
Now it’s too early to judge a kid but still. Pretty high pick to use on intangibles.
No 1st next year which could be the lottery pick.

well i always said i thought it was stupid for Ottawa to keep that pick, regardless if Karlsson stayed or not.

 

[Trapper]

well i always said i thought it was stupid for Ottawa to keep that pick, regardless if Karlsson stayed or not.

Agreed. But any owner who would “nickel and dime” the franchise player, the guy who probably puts 3/4 of the bums in the seats, can’t be to smart.
This isn’t haggling with Pageau or Zach Smith.

 

[Daisy Jane]

Agreed. But any owner who would “nickel and dime” the franchise player, the guy who probably puts 3/4 of the bums in the seats, can’t be to smart.
This isn’t haggling with Pageau or Zach Smith.

didn't Dorion make an offer to Karlsson?

 

[Trapper]

didn't Dorion make an offer to Karlsson?

80 million after Doughty signed for 88.
Then the news that other teams could speak with him.
Maybe I’m wrong but why wouldn’t you go back with the Doughty offer?

 

[Daisy Jane]

80 million after Doughty signed for 88.
Then the news that other teams could speak with him.
Maybe I’m wrong but why wouldn’t you go back with the Doughty offer?

oho i never heard/saw the number.
yah. when John + Drew signs for 11, i don't think you start with 10, there, Dorion.

 

[Liminality]

If Tampa gets EK somehow (They're rumored to be in on him) , that's a MASSIVE answer to us getting Tavares. They'd be back in the drivers seat as far as cup contenders go.

 

[Faltorvo]

If Tampa gets EK somehow (They're rumored to be in on him) , that's a MASSIVE answer to us getting Tavares. They'd be back in the drivers seat as far as cup contenders go.

they would be back?

funny, i thought they still had that seat.

 

[SeanAvery]

Pierre Dorian makes hockey decisions! remember that guys lol

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

If Tampa Bay gets Karlsson I'll die.

 

[BertCorbeau]

If Tampa Bay gets Karlsson I'll die.

I wouldn't. It'll be tough competition in the division next season but long-term the Bolts would then have EK at $11 mill AAV after next season, with Kucherov, Gourde and Point to re-sign. That's probably $30+ mill in cap space alone, and Vasilevksiy is an RFA in 2 years. That's cap-hell considering they have Palat, Johnson, Miller, and Killorn all signed at good cap-hits for multiple years plus Hedman and McDonagh.

At that point their depth will start to get shot.

 

[Ari91]

If Tampa gets EK somehow (They're rumored to be in on him) , that's a MASSIVE answer to us getting Tavares. They'd be back in the drivers seat as far as cup contenders go.

I would say that even without EK, they are still in the drivers seat. They're a complete team with solid pieces at each position. There's no one that realistically puts the Leafs over TB when you compare their blueline.

 

[Menzinger]

A trade for EK by Tampa is for this season only, there’s no way they could offer him a new contract without shedding a a couple core players. Favtor in too, it’s going to Cost yzerman a lot of futires to get. Such a move will hurt their medium and long term competitiveness

The Leafs have Tavares to keep them competitive for the next 7 years.

 

[Stephen]

If Tampa gets EK somehow (They're rumored to be in on him) , that's a MASSIVE answer to us getting Tavares. They'd be back in the drivers seat as far as cup contenders go.

Unfortunately, Tampa Bay has been my other team for many years, and I've been looking at some of the offers they've been considering on their boards. Seeing stuff like:

Sergachev, Gourde, Coburn, Koekkoek, and ONE of Stephens, Volkov or Joseph, and a 2020 1st

As well as having to move some combination of Johnson, Palat, Killorn for an extension.

I would actually be real interested to see this go down, because

1) It separates Sergachev and Hedman long term, and accelerates Tampa's window to Karlsson's prime. Having Stamkos and Karlsson both with injury concerns as heavy investments for Tampa which would be a risk to them.

2) Exhausts a ton of depth from their organization, which limits their maneuverability for the future. Which I like.

3) Makes it harder to re-sign Kucherov and Vasilevsily next year and the year after. Which I also like.

4) Between Stamkos, Point and Johnson, I actually have a sneaking suspicion Tampa's center depth may actually have some structural issues. I really like Point, but between him and Johnson, they're pretty small. Johnson has injury problems. Stamkos has injury history and is actually not the strongest "puck possession" center. We actually have two guys who can play that classic center role much better, and Kadri to boot. What an interesting potential mismatch.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[ShaneFalco]

That's a little steep

 

[sxvnert]

If Ek to Tampa goes through I would hope the pundits spend the same amount of time screeching endlessly about Tbays future cap as they've done for toronto.