🅿🆁🅴🆉

The irony is that Marner is part of the lack of playoff success problem.

There has not been a team friendly deal for Elite players in years in Toronto. Cap is going up by 8.5% this summer. For Toronto's sake I hope Marner will take a friendly deal to stay. Inking Tavares to one first would be my course of action.

Rantanen wasn't a UFA and was offered 13.5M

As a UFA, anyone can place a bid. That's his leverage. I am sure that he would prefer to stay in Toronto but it will cost them. At the very least it starts at 13M

That is fine. He is comfortable there and now he knows that Rantanen was offered 13.5M in Carolina. This is his 3rd contract. We know that he will want more than the 11M is he getting now and that he will want a NMC to make sure that the team that just asked him to waive his NMC won't trade him.

He a UFA. He has all the leverage. He can sign with whoever he wants.

And there goes that leverage

Necas had been rumoured to be on the move for years now. Why ? His production was STELLAR for what he was getting paid.

Th Canes gambled. It didn't pay off and they had to cut their losses. Today, they aren't as good as when Necas or Rantanen were there.

That is not Rantanen's game. He is more of a strong possession player down low. That doesn't make him a prime candidate for quick zone exit/entry.

I assure you that he is not lazy and doesn't lack effort. That CAR style didn't necessarily cater to his strengths. That is what you saw.

I will go back in time here. Carolina acquired Rantanen weeks before the TDL. This tells you that, while they thought they could sign him, they considered the option that the chemistry might not be there or that he simply might not want to sign there

CAR plays an uptempo game. They push the pace

I'm curious. Guentzel walking for free last year. Was that Jake's fault too ?

The Canes acquired Mikko thinking that they could sign him. It didn't work out. How is that his fault?

He may have done you a favor. 13.5M was on the table yet the fit wasn't there

Was Necas getting traded his fault ?

14M

Well... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !

#gohabsgo

The takeover

#gohabsgo

🤜🤛

I want and try and catch that game next year. Haven't been there yet

The fam' is ready.

Tonight, HABS fans will be taking over the #Calgary #Saddledome. Early 5pm game will make for a youthful, charged up atmosphere.

Listen for our #GOHABSGO    chants

@bwildemtl.bsky.social

Thoughts on this little discussed offer sheet option for MTL ?

My belief is that all 3 of these players will be locked up but MTL should DEFINITELY look into the offer sheet option if one of them is available; young productive centers aren't available often...

Or they might come to term with Johnston before the RFA deadline...

Gold option, Marco Rossi in #mnwild    . Use the same tactic but the Suter/Parise buybacks are pretty much done next year so they will have A TON of money to spend

Peterka in #SabreHood    is another good option.

Then you can negotiate an 8 x 8.5M (or 9M) extension and lock him up for 9 years.

11.4 + (8 x 8.5) = 79.4 M

That's an extra GUARANTEED 15.4M in his pocket to come to MTL.

Unfortunately, the rising cap give every team some extra spending money so DAL could very well match it

If that means giving Johnston/Dallas 11.4M Two 1st round picks, a second & a third to make it happen so be it. I pull that trigger without hesitation to secure an already proven young stud down the middle. His 8 x 8M offer equals to 64M. Acquire Johnston via offer sheet first.

The diamond option would be Wyatt Johnston #TexasHockey    22 year old center with 57 pts already this year. He has an 8 x 8M contract offer on the table already. I would use the KK offer sheet template. Give Johnston the highest 1 yr offer sheet that won't cost you 4 x 1st Rd picks

They need to go after big fish. Is a guy like Barzal available ? I have no idea but they should reach out to every team out there. I would also think outside the box and explore the offer sheet option. Why ? There are some real studs on the RFA radar.

Mittelstadt,McCann ad well. ROR would be Interesting but that would be a short term solution. Mittel has not had success in COL. Is he the player that would secure the top 6 in MTL ? MCcann is more of a winger at this point so he would be a gamble. MTL wants to take the next step

THE golden prospect is coming next year (Demidov).The #1 priority moving forward is to find a legit 2C that he can play with. You CAN'T throw a top propspect in the #NHL with a depth center & a one way forward in Laine. This is more of a summer move.ROR in NSH is being mentioned

The most important MTL player was Dach this year. The hope was that he could blossom, secure the 2C spot & solidify the top 6. The KD experiment is over. He will get another shot to prove that he can stay healthy & play down the middle on the 3rd line next season. What now ?

#gohabsgo    thoughts:

MTL is exactly where they wanted to be; in the mix.

Unfortunately, the Guhle/Dach injuries will prevent the team from trading Savard/Savard/Dvorak. Expectations were clearly set & a GM can't move players that would help get you there.

Better ?

Not even close. To get nothing but a 3rd round pick for Hall and 50% retention on Rantanen is terrible. No propspect, no players coming back, no help (less actually) for Bedard...

This is terrible

Also, I can appreciate how #goavsgo    had a number in mind and they weren't willing to go above it. As much as I love Rantanen, he isn't worth 14M. Too much money allocated to a handful of players would have skewered them long term (Makar 2027)

Will #LeafsForever    move Marner ?

Connor Bedard must be so happy ...

Not a single piece came back from those moves....

WTF are the #Blackhawks    doing ?!
A 3rd round pick for Hall & 50% retention on Rantanen is a slap on the face... Seriously? You couldn't get more from that ?!

The tank is strong...again....