[Dx54]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

This OEL bull#### is causing the exact #### I was worried about. Instead of focusing on the in-house ####, we've been occupied trying to get a "#1 d-man" when WE ALREADY HAVE A NUMBER 1 DMAN Who is BETTER than the guy we're trying to acquire and plays the SAME ####ING SIDE. So now we can't re-up Toffoli right away which means a team has a chance to lob a 6/7 million deal his way which we won't be able too (and shouldn't even if we could) match.

I get the appeal having both OEL and Hughes. It essentially means that for 40+ minutes a night one of them is on the ice, and I get that the way this shakes out means we would get him for pennies on the dollar but it's just taking too long. We're getting honey dicked by Arizona who has to move him but seem to think they have any leverage in this negotiation. Boston has apparently said their best offer is on the table (and Friedman says it's been this way for a while) because they realize the Coyotes are trying to make a trade from a position of no strength and expecting a life line. The Canucks needed to do the same thing a week ago. Then Arizona has to decide who they'd rather lose a trade too last week. Apparently the Canucks have now done this, but it's too late. We're 3 days from free agency and stuck waiting to find out a day before UFA where we are.

If this trade goes through, and it doesn't matter to which team, you are seeing Arizona eat a lot of cap, but not real dollars which they need, that's the life line the teams are giving them. But they're not getting a "Ryan O'Reilly" deal. They're getting a Kesler deal. They're getting a Joe Thornton deal. They're getting absolutely ####ing shafted, but they get the financial noose they put around their neck removed. Had the Canucks just joined the Bruins in saying "This is it, say yes or no but you have until the 2nd to decide," this would be over and done with. Yeah, he'd likely be a Bruin but that doesn't matter because he's out of the conference and the team can get on with its damn business.

I'm assuming you're a Canucks fan? Ya, I don't empathize with you.