Quote:
Originally Posted by dissentowner
That's great and for the most part I agree but they are not going to do that for a couple of reasons. First, the mandate from ownership was to try and win now, as long as they have a chance at playoff revenue Edwards is not going to be on board with selling everyone off. The biggest reason why I don't see it happening though is that mandate is what they sold Michael Backlund to return here. The guy signed an extension after saying repeatedly he wants to win and you think if the team is in a playoff spot they are going to trade away Hanifin and Lindholm as opposed to signing them if they can? That would be a hell of a thing to do to a player who has been with the franchise his whole career. I get it, most of us want to sell, sell, sell but if they are in the playoffs picture I can't see it. I think they will definitely move Zadorov regardless and Vladar as well if they can but that's it. They would probably walk Tanev to free agency and use him as a rental for the playoffs.
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The message and mandate can stay the same but with these players the team is on the bubble so I do t see how giving Hanifin a 2.5M raise and Lindholm a $4+M raise keeps them competitive with a chance to win? I think Backlund signed here for legacy and family reasons as much as he did for chasing a cup.
Signing those 2 guys to 8 year deals at 27 and 29 when you have almost 30 Weegar for 7 more years, 30 year old Huberdeau for another 7 and 33 year old Kadri for another 5 is a recipe for disaster.
I truly hope what you are saying is opinion and not fact because it is a horrible decision that will do nothing by continue to cap out and age this team. If the direction changes and Bscklund wants to move I am sure they will oblige but I also don’t think they are looking to go scorched earth and would rather retool. Having cap flexibility and picks is the easiest way to do that and they have the assets to make it happen with their UFA’s. According to Sec214 Lindholm and his camp want a change anyway and Hanifin walked away from the $60M deal so the flames might not have a choice.
Conroy also said he will not lose these guys in free agency so I tend to believe that is still the plan.