Yeah, I would forget McGroaty. I can see him staying the full 4 years and going UFA if Jets really don't want to play him.
There's no way we were giving up #5. #21 would have been fine. McGroaty was taken 14th, but there were still good players at #21 when we selected. It was a far more equal trade.
Jets will trade him instead of losing him for nothing.
I don't think it's because they don't want to play him. It has more to do with Jets trying to avoid burning one year of his ELC.
Same thing as the Flyers with Cutter Gauthier.
Wouldn't surprise me if agents and the PA were behind this. Trying to send a message to teams.
Both players looked like they were happy being with their team before that happened.
From what i understand, MTL was prepared to trade down (maybe more than once) if Demidov was not available at 5 and then use their new lesser pick to trade for a player. Not sure if it was McG.
KH said that they had different scenarios prepared depending on who was still there at 5.
He also said that he would've traded 21 OA if Hage was not there. Maybe for McG?
Minny was prepared to give 13 OA but decided to keep it when they saw that Buium was still there at 12.
All those picks are in the same range, so that's probably what it's gonna take to get him.