Anyone following this saga?
I’m sure most are aware of the disgusting situation involving the Karlsssons and Mike Hoffman’s fiancée and Hoffman’s subsequent trade.
Then Ottawa apparently offered EK 8 years at $10 mil per which elicited a “thanks, but not thanks” and now he’s being shopped while they can still get decent return. Sounds like the Lightning, Golden Knights and Stars are the front runners with a few other teams in the mix.
Any thoughts if he moves before the season and if so, where makes the most sense as far as Ottawa’s return? I hear the Colorado Avalanche of all teams may be a dark horse?
(Someone please edit title to Erik, damn autocorrect)
Basically Ottawa asked for a hometown discount, although EK has gone on record saying that he wants market value. And with Doughty getting $11M per year (with his original team), EK at minimum would get that much.
Letting teams talk to EK is a bit of a gamble. Basically other teams are able to find out information, which could hurt the trade return.
Dallas emerged as the front runner for EK. I would assume they offered the most money. Let's say Vegas offered $11M, and Dallas' offer was higher. Vegas now has a ball park number on which to evaluate the likelihood of teams being able to actually sign EK to that contract. The process also gives Dallas a lot of info too, like what the asking price would be in trade.
Once teams have an idea of what EK is asking for, it drastically reduces some teams chances of actually being able to sign EK long term. Boston, Tampa, SJ and Columbus, and even Dallas would have to move some major contracts to make room. Only Vegas and NYR have enough cap room without having to make a major move or engage in a 3 way trade.
Now with Dallas balking at the asking price, and possibly a few other teams realizing that EK is out of their price range, then it leaves only a couple of teams that can actually pull this off. So with less buyers, it becomes a buyers market for the remaining interested teams.
Dallas is going to roll the dice and not give up 1st r picks and Heiskinen in a trade, and see if EK only gets used as a rental player. Then they can sign EK for just money and not give up anything. Vegas could be thinking the same thing. They're hoping that other teams will fill their roster up with contracts and leave just them with the cap space to go after EK July 1
Tampa could be the most aggressive, since they do have a lot of prospects in the cupboard, but have contracts to unload. However, they do not have 1st round picks available in 2019 (conditionally held by NYR in McDonagh trade).
I'm not sure Ottawa would want to take some of those expiring contracts unless Bobby Ryan's contract gets moved along with it. So it's super complicated, and by no means a no-brainer for Stevie Y.
If this doesn't get done by the start of the season, all Ottawa is going to get in return is a rental rate, with a potential upgrade if EK signs an extension, which no matter how you slice it, will look bad for the Sens.
Just my 2 cents.