Roster Building XXV: Winning Rantanen's Undying Love

[TheBigLetowski]

LA keeps scratching Brandt Clarke. I wonder if they want to use him as a piece for a scoring forward.

Seems like Clarke would be something the Kings may dangle for Rantanen. Brandt has more pedigree than Morrow, but if you take him back ++ for Rantanen, what do you do with Morrow (and Burns for the rest of this year for that matter)?

Also, seems like LA would likely want some assurances that Rantanen would be interested in sticking around. Clarke for a rental would be pretty stupid, but we’re taking about Rob Blake here who gave up a ton for PLD not too long ago.

If they do get serious about potentially moving Rantanen, really hope they let teams talk extension, they could then at least recoup max value

If they think MR will sign in LA, sign him the 8yrs and send him to LA for Byfield and Clarke + . I can't imagine LA actually moving Byfield because their C depth if light if he's gone. I don't move MR to LA without Byfield coming back. Just one persons opinion.

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

I would only consider moving Rantanen for a 1B or better center or a 1RD with term

 

[DaveG]

yeah I would have to think a guy that projects to be RD1 with team control for at least 4-5 years, or a legit upgrade on 2C+ other assets would have to be included in a deal. Clarke (22yo likely future RD1) is as close as that gets right now and LA would have to add a nice piece. Can't see them moving Byfield with Turcotte looking like a bust.

 

[Svechhammer]

yeah I would have to think a guy that projects to be RD1 with team control for at least 4-5 years, or a legit upgrade on 2C+ other assets would have to be included in a deal. Clarke (22yo likely future RD1) is as close as that gets right now and LA would have to add a nice piece. Can't see them moving Byfield with Turcotte looking like a bust.

So we do that and then what, throw all the money we have at Marner in the summer?

I mean not an ideal situation, and doesn't help at all at C, but you'd hope he and Aho would develop good chemistry and maybe we're better off? I'd probably still prefer to keep Rantanen if at all possible.

I mean if we're talking pie in the sky fantasy of everything falling into place perfectly, then I guess maybe the 2C solution could be Sam Bennett if there is any way he breaks free in Florida?

But outside of Bennett, I am not sure there is any C that will be on the market this summer who moves the needle much for us.

 

[Oogie Boogie]

I haven't paid attention, but is there reason to believe that Toronto will not be able to re-sign Marner?

 

[User13452]

Don’t see Rantanen moving I think they ride it out try and have playoff success and let him get use to the city and team

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I haven't paid attention, but is there reason to believe that Toronto will not be able to re-sign Marner?

The same reason that always comes up with Toronto. They're paying 4 forwards oodles of money while leaving their defense/goaltending to the wayside. Literally, four forwards making 10m+, one defenseman making 7m+, then the next highest paid players are Tanev at 4.5, Domi and OEL at 3.5. And obviously, their lack of playoff success may come from that plan.

So they may decide they want to switch it up and use Marner's possibly 13m+ to help the rest of the team

 

[DaveG]

So we do that and then what, throw all the money we have at Marner in the summer?

I mean not an ideal situation, and doesn't help at all at C, but you'd hope he and Aho would develop good chemistry and maybe we're better off? I'd probably still prefer to keep Rantanen if at all possible.

I mean if we're talking pie in the sky fantasy of everything falling into place perfectly, then I guess maybe the 2C solution could be Sam Bennett if there is any way he breaks free in Florida?

But outside of Bennett, I am not sure there is any C that will be on the market this summer who moves the needle much for us.

I mean that's basically what it comes down to, yeah. Not a fan of it and I'd rather keep Rantanen but the ultimate question is if he wants to be here long-term or if he wants to test the market.

I haven't paid attention, but is there reason to believe that Toronto will not be able to re-sign Marner?

No idea on that with the raising cap, only reason they might not is if he's still bitter about how his prior contract talks played out even if he did end up getting paid a premium in the end. If Toronto ends up retaining him things get really dicey in FA. Best option left at that point would be Ehlers. If I'm Toronto I let Tavares walk instead but they might be able to squeeze more juice by letting Marner be the one that walks.

 

[MyLuckyPuck]

I continue to think the ESPN+ proposal makes the most sense if Carolina chooses to move on from Rantanen:

Ehlers+Rasmus Kupari

If Winnipeg doesn't think they are signing Ehlers, then it's a small add to upgrade on Ehlers and go for it this year. Don't even need any assurance from Rantanen here. Meanwhile, Carolina gets a player they should be able to sign at a lower number and a younger RH center.

I can see a different prospect / young player here, but the base of the deal remains intriguing to me.

Can we resign Ehlers?

 

[Chan790]

Seems like Clarke would be something the Kings may dangle for Rantanen. Brandt has more pedigree than Morrow, but if you take him back ++ for Rantanen, what do you do with Morrow (and Burns for the rest of this year for that matter)?

Flip one of Clarke or Morrow as the centerpiece of a trade either before the TDL, as part of a 3-way, or in the offseason for a 2C.

Edit: nvm on the rest of it. Too crazy.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I could see something like Rantanen + Morrow for Kempe + Clarke as a base. Kempe's contract expires at the same time that Necas's does, so it would put Carolina's contract situation relative to the start of the year back to neutral. I, at one time last season, thought a Necas for Kempe swap would be an interesting gamble. Kempe's play-style racks up the goals and he's quite large, though not as large as Rantanen.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Welp, take Jake Evans off of the board. Pageau and Sissons are still options out there, however.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Welp, take Jake Evans off of the board. Pageau and Sissons are still options out there, however.

He would have been a decent add given where we are at center but he also has like 5 points in his last 25 games after a hot start.

 

[User13452]

Welp, take Jake Evans off of the board. Pageau and Sissons are still options out there, however.

Add maybe Ryan Strome and Coyle as 2 other right handed centres that probably would be available

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Add maybe Ryan Strome and Coyle as 2 other right handed centres that probably would be available

Pageau is IMO the man to get if possible. You can't get faceoff stats much more pristine than this as a right-shot. Sissons is close to this type of success on the dot but not quite at Pageau-level at around 54%.