Similar to how we hear every year that Edmonton will take the step to becoming a contender? These teams are at different stages but still struggling with the similar issues
That's a pretty serious haul for a arbitration eligible RFA. Depending on how Dach looks and where that 1st round pick ends up, I'm not sure VAN can turn that down for a arbitration eligible RFA at the end of this season.
He would have to be extended long term for a heavy payment to be made. And a 1st carries huge risk.
Pettersson apparently will only sign with Vancouver if tbey have a good season, so he’ll definately extend with…Montreal?
That's fair - but taking Petersson out of the conversation, Montreal has a way better core already in place and can afford him, I think it's reasonably fair to say the direction they're heading is clearer than the nonsense EP has been a part of since he was drafted. Also not meant as a knock, Vancouver has been a zoo
Carolina is already one of the most likeable teams in the league, but this move would be amazing if they can pull it off
That is highly debatable. Also, I don't see a single reason why EP would leave Vancouver for teams like Montreal or Detroit. If he's getting moved he will likely say he will only sign with a select handful of teams, likely good teams. That will also reduce his value a bit. Almost every single Playoff team/contender would try to make room for a guy like EP.
I think you'd be hard pressed in that debate. Hughes, Demko, Hronek and a handful of good vets vs Suzuki, Caufield, Dach, Guhle and a way, way deeper crop of young players.
Montreal is not anywhere close to becoming a quick contender lmao. Hughes is better than any player in Montreal's system by a large margin and Demko plays one of the most important positions which also happens to be a weakpoint for Montreal.
This is what I would assume. I would say overall Pettersson is very happy in Vancouver but he wants to win, got a glimpse of that in the 2020 playoffs and was willing to sign a long term deal... but Benning being Benning had to take care of signing guys like Tanner Pearson and Tucker Poolman to lucrative deals leaving no flexibility for Pettersson & Hughes so it was a 3 year contract for the former.
I rate it as being quite unlikely for a myriad of reasons but it wouldn't surprise me either. Canes have been trying to make a big splash for a proven top tier forward for a little while now, missing out on Eichel, Tkachuk (Meier too although I don't have him in the same tier) for instance. They won't force a bad deal but if it can work out they will go for it. And I do believe the team has the assets to make it happen, it would hurt but acquiring a stud like EP is always going to hurt in the return. And probably worth it for a long term C group consisting of Aho, EP and Kotkaniemi.
I agree but looking at how Carolina acquires players, it’s just not in their DNA to give up good young pieces for a bigger piece. But a package of peace, necas and a protected 1st is a good baseline
The package would undoubtedly be huge but I don't see a single scenario where Vancouver wins giving up a 25 year old EP. Massive gap between him and PLD. A potential Hart/Selke candidate compared to a decent 2C.
