Quote:
Originally Posted by SebC
I don't think it's leverage. I think it's GMs who fail to understand their bargaining position. Would another team give up four first-round picks to make this signing? If not, then the Oilers overpaid.
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In this case, I think that's precisely what happened. There was zero reason to acquiesce to the dry saddle camp short of a threat of losing him to someone else.
Offer sheets are rarely used for a reason, but they are still part of the rules. Im guessing that Liut told Chiarelli and crew that they were sitting on one. Then as September neared, his client was threatening to sign it in order to be established where ever it was he was getting the offer from.
Pure speculation on my part but explains the ridiculous AAV, why a bridge deal wasn't used, and why this happened now without a pressure point to kickstart it. They took 4 months to get THIS deal? Doubtful. Looks like this deal was forced on them and they had to decide yay or nay.