[News] UPD: Habs do not match Canes offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1 yr, $6.1 mil)

[Calgary4LIfe]

Aho sure didn't seem to have any issues going back into his locker room. This is the business side of hockey where the players are concerned, and I think they all get that. 6+ million is a windfall for Kotkaniemi.


I think this was a really good move by Carolina actually - KK is overpaid, but if Montreal doesn't match, Carolina has overpaid KK by about 3 million for this year. I am sure if they want to extend him after January, he won't be asking for 6+ million on his next deal (unless he ends up really working out somehow - some people did think he was going to be a really good player, and just stalled).


Great entertainment FU move by Carolina. How many teams are going to be willing to put in an offer-sheet on one of their players in the future?



I really do think how offer-sheets are structured, most teams just match. I think their best purpose is to screw up another team's salary structure. I still remember when SJ threw a wrench into Chicago's salary structure when Hjalmarson signed that offer-sheet.


I am not sure that Montreal doesn't match - how do they see Kotkaniemi? Maybe they feel he will rebound, or maybe they think that he and his contract is worth a lower price than a 1st and a 3rd? I guess we will find out in a week.

[powderjunkie]

Reminds me a bit of STL and VGK paying new guys big $$$ while nickel/diming their existing guys.


I expect CAR to remain strong, but it's a tough division and if they miss the playoffs this could turn into a debacle (esp. if they won the lottery).

[icarus]

Fun to watch as an outsider but if I were a fan of either team, I'd be disappointed in my GM knowing they burned a bridge with at least one other NHL team. You want your GM to be able to deal unfettered with 31 other teams in the league.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Reminds me a bit of STL and VGK paying new guys big $$$ while nickel/diming their existing guys.


I expect CAR to remain strong, but it's a tough division and if they miss the playoffs this could turn into a debacle (esp. if they won the lottery).

Obviously it’s unlikely to end up being a high pick… but Carolina’s defence did take a big hit this offseason and I think their goaltending is a roll of the dice this year. Those are some wildcards that could potentially put a wrench into their season.

However, they’re deep with skill at forward and they have a great coach. I think they should still make the playoffs. And if not, it’s still very unlikely their pick would be a top five pick since they’d have to win the lottery or finish near the bottom and there are too many bad teams out there for them to finish that low (Buffalo, Phoenix, Columbus, Anaheim, San Jose and Detroit for example).

[SuperMatt18]

Montreal would be smart not to match IMO.

Kotkaniemi is not Aho and $6.1M is way too much for him,

Take the 1st and 3rd. Carolina lost some good pieces this offseason, play in a tough division, and goaltending is a big question mark.

Would be hilarious if Carolina acted like Petty babies about the Aho offersheet (which was not an overpay and worked out great for them), and then ended up losing a top 3 pick in a good draft.

NHL GMs really are the worst petty babies.

[Flamesfan05]

Imagine losing a couple good picks so you can pay a bottom 6 guy 6.1M

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Great entertainment FU move by Carolina. How many teams are going to be willing to put in an offer-sheet on one of their players in the future?

All of them? Imagine getting a first round pick+ in compensation for someone like Jankowski a couple years ago because another team was pissy.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

All of them? Imagine getting a first round pick+ in compensation for someone like Jankowski a couple years ago because another team was pissy.

No doubt.

It’s like if the Flames offersheet Pettersson…and the Canucks turned around and gave a $6M to Dube.

[powderjunkie]

WAS
PIT
NYI
CAR


PHI
NYR
NJD


CBJ


It's an interesting division...CAR is far more likely to win the division than finish 7th, but almost any permutation is conceivable. If they finish 17th and win the lottery to draft 7th, it would be a disaster. If they finished 22nd and drafted ~10th it would be a disaster.


Then again, Necas is their only big ticket to worry about and NN and Trocheck are $10M off the books next year so maybe it's not the end of the world if they have to overpay him again.

[Monahammer]

Things would have to go brutally wrong in Carolina for their pick to be in the top 15. Imo it's 25+ . Good trade if they really aren't planning to do anything else imo. Kotka could have upside, he's only 21.

[Knightslayer]

This is awesome but Carolina really shouldn't be offering this money to an average player out of spite.

This may come back to haunt them at the trade deadline while they're trying to improve their team for a long playoff run.

[cam_wmh]

JK is not signing with anyone for half that contract's AAV, next season.
If I'm Waddell, I'm hedging he loves it in Raleigh next season, and signs an appropriately valued contract next year.

[Geeoff]

I do understand why Carolina would do this. There are good players that aren't even in the NHL at 21. Whereas, Kotkaniemi has scored important playoff goals in the NHL

[sureLoss]

per Friedman on the 31 thoughts podcast

Canes have been looking for a centre for a while now
Canes told Habs in the last 24 hours they were considering offer sheeting KK
Habs were using their leverage to the max on KK and Friedman guesses best offer was 2 yrs @ $2.5 mil per
The Canes had discussions with KK about a long term deal so they know what a long term deal with KK looks like and Friedman guess it is going to come in less than $6.1 mil

Says there is a significant chance that Montreal takes the picks (might change as the news is still fresh)
Could see Habs taking the 1st and 3rd and offering it for Dvorak
Doesn't think Habs are a big player for Eichel

Friedman points out that Nick Suzuki's agent and KK's agent work for the same agency

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by icarus

Fun to watch as an outsider but if I were a fan of either team, I'd be disappointed in my GM knowing they burned a bridge with at least one other NHL team. You want your GM to be able to deal unfettered with 31 other teams in the league.

Meh, that bridge was already shaky. Not a Carolina fan at all but I'd be okay with this. Worst case they have a overpaid contract for a year that they might be able to extend to a reasonable long term cap hit.

[FireGilbert]

Wow. Not sure the Canes using the money they saved on losing Hamilton for nothing on a spite contract is the best strategy but it sure is interesting. It's a high risk high reward gamble on their part that screws over the Habs either way.

[Knightslayer]

I didn't realize kotkaniemi was a pretty recent 3rd overall pick. At his young age and potential maybe I underestimated how good Kotkaniemi can be.

[Jacks]

You have to wonder, if the Canes held so much resentment that they have gone to these lengths (which is hilarious) do they have any long term resentment towards Aho for signing that offer sheet?

This seems really personal.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

per Friedman on the 31 thoughts podcast

Canes have been looking for a centre for a while now
Canes told Habs in the last 24 hours they were considering offer sheeting KK
Habs were using their leverage to the max on KK and Friedman guesses best offer was 2 yrs @ $2.5 mil per
The Canes had discussions with KK about a long term deal so they know what a long term deal with KK looks like and Friedman guess it is going to come in less than $6.1 mil

Says there is a significant chance that Montreal takes the picks (might change as the news is still fresh)
Could see Habs taking the 1st and 3rd and offering it for Dvorak
Doesn't think Habs are a big player for Eichel

Friedman points out that Nick Suzuki's agent and KK's agent work for the same agency

This makes a lot of sense to me. you have to wonder if they already have a long-term handshake deal worked out.

[RedHawk12]

The offer sheet is funny but it's not made 100% just out of spite. Carolina obviously wanted Kotkaniemi and still believe in his potential. This guy is a 21 year old 3rd overall pick. Those kinds of players aren't usually available for a mid to late 1st and a 3rd.