[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by OptimalTates

Also Flames should be talking to Gaudreau and finding out exactly what teams he is expecting to sign with. If it's only one, well there's still some minor value in a sign-and-trade to reduce the cap-hit for the team. But let's say NJ and Philly are both completely on board in trying to acquire him and Gaudreau is nearing 50/50 on which team.

Numbers don't really matter but let's say the max Philly will offer over 7 years is 77M (11M cap), New Jersey will offer 80.5M (11.5M). Over 8 years, Philly will offer 84M (10.5M cap), New Jersey 88M (11M cap).

Because of personal preference, because of taxes, because of total value, Gaudreau's camp ranks the contracts as:

Flyers 8 year offer
Devils 8 year offer
Flyers 7 year offer
Devils 7 year offer

Well the Devils are out of the Gaudreau sweepstakes unless they do a sign-and-trade. And if they are willing to do it, Philly has to counter offer.

Allegedly the closest we got to this was a sign-and-trade with Tavares between the Islanders and Leafs. Leafs declined. But Leafs also knew that they were signing Tavares so it was simply if the cap-hit difference was worth the request. If an 8th year is the difference between a team getting Gaudreau or not, that's a huge value to the team.

Flames get value
Gaudreau gets more money
Acquiring team gets Gaudreau and a lower cap hit

It's too much of a win-win-win that the NHL GM's will screw it up though.

That’s a ton of “ifs”.