First off....thanks to all who placed offers yesterday for Mitch Marner. Love the conversations ...I am going through the many comments, emails, and tweets I got...but first...
Rantanen and Laine deals?
I am told both players reps are talking with their teams and that there is more progress in Colorado than there is so far with Winnipeg....although there is some progress in Winnipeg... perhaps the biggest shift here now that camps are closing in is that teams are apparently starting to move more on their own and not willing to wait for Marner to set the marketplace.
As for Rantanen....a source tells me he feels it will get done..."probably at some point this weekend or early next week" As for Laine...The Jets want to know if they really need to look towards the trade route...The Islanders and Canadiens are both very interested in trades....and I am also hearing NJ or the Caps could get in on Laine...The Jets don't want to trade Laine, but want a shorter deal than Laine is willing to take.
When it comes to the RFA D....
McAvoy is the benchmark there...although there is little doubt that Werenski could sign first....Provorov and the Flyers seem the furthest apart and most likely to be willing to wait this out...