Launching with 53 names, I fully expect this to grow to over 65 names this summer, which would make it the largest rumor chart to date. Just getting initial reads on, and tracking these names, was quite a lot of work because we are in a "perfect storm" of sorts this off season...
Reasons for the fun summer ahead?
* The flat cap.
* The return of fan revenue
* The expansion draft
* The amount of "pushover teams" is dwindling
* The failed expectations of some VERY Major market franchises with impatient fans.
And finally, what I was hinting at yesterday, the one reason this year is so extra tricky, the pending UFA's who aren't actually extended but have "understandings" that they will be extended by their current squad as soon as the expansion draft is finished. This gives teams the ability to not have to protect them from Seattle.
Seattle WILL be allowed to approach these UFA players and talk to them prior to anyone else, so there is some risk in not extending these players...
I fully expect Francis to be extremely aggressive...
If you are new around these parts...the Rumor Chart is constantly updated based on my opinion as to where these players could be headed... In my blogs I simply report the rumors being discussed on the inside, and allow you to decide which are more or less likely to happen...
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