Seravalli: Canes discussing long term deal with Kotkaniemi, Canes want 8 years

[CTHabsfan]

3-3.5M x8 years isn't awful if he's gonna be the 3C for the long term.

If Kotkaniemi were to sign that contract, he must not think he'll amount to much of a player. $3- 3.5 million/ season for your prime years is not very good.

 

[FerrisRox]

Consider the obvious: the source for this "report" is likely the player's agent, as is the case with the massive bulk of these rumors.

Care to explain why the agent would lie and say that the Hurricanes want an eight year deal?

How would that benefit him or is client in anyway to have that false narrative out there? First of all, Kotkaniemi is currently not a UFA, so the only person he is negotiating with is the Carolina Hurricanes. Why would he lie abut his negotiations with them? For what benefit?

Even if Kotkaniemi does hit free agency, how would a false story about his previous team wanting an eight-year commitment be beneficial to him?

 

[japhi]

Care to explain why the agent would lie and say that the Hurricanes want an eight year deal?

How would that benefit him or is client in anyway to have that false narrative out there? First of all, Kotkaniemi is currently not a UFA, so the only person he is negotiating with is the Carolina Hurricanes. Why would he lie abut his negotiations with them? For what benefit?

Even if Kotkaniemi does hit free agency, how would a false story about his previous team wanting an eight-year commitment be beneficial to him?

Not currently a FA but has a look at FA very soon. No QO = FA.

 

[WTFMAN99]

No way he signs for that amount when he has 1/4 of that guaranteed or FA available.

If Kotkaniemi were to sign that contract, he must not think he'll amount to much of a player. $3- 3.5 million/ season for your prime years is not very good.

Front load the crap out of it, given the production etc, you can do better in UFA if you have some decent pro scouts.

 

[CapSpace]

Lol

 

[Junohockeyfan]

At this point the gamble didn't pay out for the Canes and they are forced to overpay KK in his next contract rather than losing him to free agency. It would look terrible if they paid 6M and gave up a 1st + for one year of KK producing at t 3rd line / 4th line rate. They have no choice but to re-sign him at another overpayment.

KK can easily ditch the Canes for a better opportunity to be a potential 2C in free agency (after the Canes refuse the option). He doesn't have much of an opportunity with the Canes now or moving forward and he's terrible as a winger. I think he bails and tests free agency for a better opportunity. That is his M-O.

 

[japhi]

Front load the crap out of it, given the production etc, you can do better in UFA if you have some decent pro scouts.

Not sure Dundon is into front loading / signing bonuses. He held the line on Aho, doubt he changes the model for KK

 

[Junohockeyfan]

They are 2nd in the league right now, I think they're okay. KK gives them excellent depth down the middle for the playoffs.

It's crazy how obsessed habs fans are with this player.

I'm not obsessed with KK at all. KK has to think about himself and his future. Convince me - what future does KK have with the Canes that maximizes his earning potential as a C vs other teams in free agency? Apply some logic to your argument rather than railing on Habs fans.

KK is pretty much a guaranteed UFA this offseason. Why wouldn't he entertain offers with a team that is is weak at C?

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

It's crazy how obsessed habs fans are with this player.

They aren't obsessed with Koko at all.


I know this, because they keep telling us how not obsessed they are.

 

[BB88]

I'm not obsessed with KK at all. KK has to think about himself and his future. Convince me - what future does KK have with the Canes that maximizes his earning potential as a C vs other teams in free agency? Apply some logic to your argument rather than railing on Habs fans.

KK is pretty much a guaranteed UFA this offseason. Why wouldn't he entertain offers with a team that is is weak at C?

Carolina has openings in their midd6 with Trocheck and Staal and Carolina is a top tier in this league with lots of Finns on the roster

They could run next year with
Aho
Kotka
Staal(match up line)
in the middle which leaves plenty of good wingers for Kotka.

Svec, Necas, Jarvis, TT for example

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Carolina has openings in their midd6 with Trocheck and Staal and Carolina is a top tier in this league with lots of Finns on the roster

They could run next year with
Aho
Kotka
Staal(match up line)
in the middle which leaves plenty of good wingers for Kotka.

Canes aren't rolling with KK as Trochek's replacement and hope to compete. If KK is a 2C, its on a weak NHL team that is unlikely to be competing. Canes aren't that.

At this stage, Staal is taking up a potential spot for KK as the 3C.

Trade / dump Staal with a sweetener?

 

[rumrokh]

Care to explain why the agent would lie and say that the Hurricanes want an eight year deal?

How would that benefit him or is client in anyway to have that false narrative out there? First of all, Kotkaniemi is currently not a UFA, so the only person he is negotiating with is the Carolina Hurricanes. Why would he lie abut his negotiations with them? For what benefit?

Even if Kotkaniemi does hit free agency, how would a false story about his previous team wanting an eight-year commitment be beneficial to him?

Perceived desirability.

Think of the small number of people on the Hurricanes who are involved in or privy to such negotiations. How would it benefit them to leak that information? Just like rumors about certain players being pursued by many teams in free agency and the asking price being very high in trades, it makes zero sense for management of these teams to say a single word to media about these things. And with great regularity, the trade returns or contracts these players receive are below what's reported. Either every single rumor-monger journalist is deliberately exaggerating or these rumors are coming from a source that has a vested interest in perceived higher value of the players.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Note that Seravalli didn't predict anything about the AAV.

Why not give a 3rd liner a 8 yr deal if he's young and has upside?

I would imagine the AAV would be close to 5 M, and there is a pretty big risk to give him that contract when he hasn't really improved in the last 3 years ever since he made the nhl at 18 years old.
At around 5 M aav, he would need to have considerable improvement, which is far from a sure thing.

 

[Unsustainable]

At this point the gamble didn't pay out for the Canes and they are forced to overpay KK in his next contract rather than losing him to free agency. It would look terrible if they paid 6M and gave up a 1st + for one year of KK producing at t 3rd line / 4th line rate. They have no choice but to re-sign him at another overpayment.

KK can easily ditch the Canes for a better opportunity to be a potential 2C in free agency (after the Canes refuse the option). He doesn't have much of an opportunity with the Canes now or moving forward and he's terrible as a winger. I think he bails and tests free agency for a better opportunity. That is his M-O.

So odd to be mad about getting 3/4 line points while playing 3/4 minutes.

 

[FerrisRox]

Perceived desirability.

Think of the small number of people on the Hurricanes who are involved in or privy to such negotiations. How would it benefit them to leak that information? Just like rumors about certain players being pursued by many teams in free agency and the asking price being very high in trades, it makes zero sense for management of these teams to say a single word to media about these things. And with great regularity, the trade returns or contracts these players receive are below what's reported. Either every single rumor-monger journalist is deliberately exaggerating or these rumors are coming from a source that has a vested interest in perceived higher value of the players.

You're missing my point. Kotkaniemi is *only* negotiating with one team. Why would a rumour leaked that could only be connected to that team, so therefore instantly able to verify or dismiss be of any benefit?

And if it's a long game to make him perceived to be desirable, the simple fact that he hits the open market where that perception could help only happens if he is rejected by the team that allegedly wanted so badly to give him eight years.

It doesn't make sense that this is a false rumour.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

So odd to be mad about getting 3/4 line points while playing 3/4 minutes.

He was billed to be a future 1C/2C and is not tracking anywhere close to it. That’s the strange part. And that’s putting aside the cost to poach him.

but the question that remains unanswered is why KK wouldn’t test free when the Avs do not qualify him.

 

[le_sean]

They are 2nd in the league right now, I think they're okay. KK gives them excellent depth down the middle for the playoffs.

It's crazy how obsessed habs fans are with this player.

The Canes would still be really good without him and would have an extra $6m in cap space and a 1st rounder to get a big impact player at the deadline. Why would a contending team be content with a $6m 3rd liner? Rod barely trusts him in close games.

 

[rumrokh]

You're missing my point. Kotkaniemi is *only* negotiating with one team. Why would a rumour leaked that could only be connected to that team, so therefore instantly able to verify or dismiss be of any benefit?

And if it's a long game to make him perceived to be desirable, the simple fact that he hits the open market where that perception could help only happens if he is rejected by the team that allegedly wanted so badly to give him eight years.

It doesn't make sense that this is a false rumour.

I'm not saying it's a false rumor, just that the agent is going to leak whatever sounds best. For all we know, the Hurricanes offered several different contracts, one of which is an 8 year deal, and that's what the agent leaked.

 

[kp61c]

Because at a free agent he'd be lucky to get anything more than three years I expect. No team is going to give him a long term offer on what he's shown so far.

Isn' it preferable to sign a short-term deal, prove yourself and then sign for a lot as a free agent? Why shackle yourself to a team for 8 years? That's moronic.

 

[BB88]

Canes aren't rolling with KK as Trochek's replacement and hope to compete. If KK is a 2C, its on a weak NHL team that is unlikely to be competing. Canes aren't that.

At this stage, Staal is taking up a potential spot for KK as the 3C.

Trade / dump Staal with a sweetener?

Why couldn’t KK replace Tro’s production if put on that role? 50 points/82 games.

They’d have Aho& Staal taking heavier assignments and KK would get 1st/2nd line wingers to play with with pp time.

He’s still a young developing C, no reason to not expect 50 points from a top6 role.
Carolina isn’t build like a 1 line team, their success runs in them being a well balanced team

 

[phillytennis]

If they can get him somewhere in the 4M range at 8 years then I think that'll be a steal within a year or 2.

He's still not worth $4 million per year for 8 years...too inconsistent... eventually, the Canes will be stuck with this lousy contract.

 

[phillytennis]

Why couldn’t KK replace Tro’s production if put on that role? 50 points/82 games.

They’d have Aho& Staal taking heavier assignments and KK would get 1st/2nd line wingers to play with with pp time.

He’s still a young developing C, no reason to not expect 50 points from a top6 role.
Carolina isn’t build like a 1 line team, their success runs in them being a well balanced team

On paper it sounds good....he remains totally unproven.

 

[BB88]

On paper it sounds good....he remains totally unproven.

I mean it’s not like Tro is lighting up the league and Carolina is at the top of the standings.
That would leave money to add elewhere to improve the roster

Sometimes you take risks and run with it

 

[FlyguyOX]

This reminds me of Eriksson Ek contract situation. Blew up right after signing it

 

[didimentionlarseller]

Zero reason for Carolina to do this unless that cap hit is crazy low, and they want to continue the cringe Carolina/Montreal Twitter fights going.

Please don’t include the Habs in that it was all the Carolina org on Twitter and agreed about how played out it all was