Please let it be Ottawa...I really want those 4 lottery picks.

Unless it's a trade...

I don't know why many think interest in RFA's means an offer sheet. The Avs or Leafs could easily trade Rantanen or Marner for a package of warm bodies, picks and prospects.... I mean there is logic going the trade route... Just giving up either player for picks alone leaves those teams shorthanded...

I mean Anisimov, Perlini, Mitchell/Nylander, 1st & 2nd round picks in 2020 for Rantanen makes more sense for right now - or in the short term - than the potential compensation that would come back, depending on the contract..

I mean it's not likely from the Hawks perspective given all the RFA's the Hawks presently have that have star potential or at the very least will want significant raises... I mean since Strome came to Chicago he's been a PPG player and so has DeBrincat scoring 41 goals in only his 2nd season - those 2 combined will cost the Hawks 12-15 combined in their next contracts if they continue to progress..

So if there is any truth to this rumor and Bowman is interested in Rantanen then Bowman will have to be creative...
- Savard2Secord

ABSOLUTELY ZERO CHANCE MIKKO GETS TRADED

1)Avs have more cap space then anyone why bother to OS them.
2)BB isn't eligible for an OS.
3)Marner is playing with the rest of the league to get as much as possible from Leafs.
4) The Gardiner rumor makes no sense but hey who's counting.

1. To screw them and make them overpay?

3. Well I guess he should be happy with $3.5 something mill per year? Because I that’s all they have in cap space right now I believe.

4. Gardiner rumor makes total sense. Sabres second best LHD is probably Pilut.

Bedlam which will never be heard publicly.
- gergeswillems

That is the most insidious kind.

ABSOLUTELY ZERO CHANCE MIKKO GETS TRADED
- Avalanchephenom

and zero chance that the Avalanche let him get signed away with all that cap space.

What the hell would the hawks or sens have that colorado would give up rantanen for????

Nothing.
- prock

The Hawks would have to start DeBrincat and a high end D prospect but the
Hawks couldn't afford the salary for Rantanen this year and if they could I still wouldn't do it.

The Hawks would have to start DeBrincat and a high end D prospect but the
Hawks couldn't afford the salary for Rantanen this year and if they could I still wouldn't do it.
- gramps

I couldn't see Bowman trading DeBrincat straight up for Rantanen, DeBrincat is a future 50 goal scorer on a much cheaper contract - that's just not going to happen, especially reuniting him with Strome...

I mean, if Rantanen is traded, it will be for a high end prospect, a top 6/9 forward that can log time on any line and a couple of high picks ....

I mean the notion that Rantanen is going to bring back a kings ransom just wont happen.... The Avs aren't getting a guy that is jut as good as Rantanen ++++ for the kid..... And I don't think teams will be offering up 4 first round picks for him via offer sheet so..... Maybe Rantanen is stuck taking Sakic's offer or just holding out like Nylander did until get gets what he thinks he's worth (to Colorado )....

At the same time I wouldn't be shocked to see him traded, just not at the demands Avs fans are expecting.....

The Hawks are building a new young contending team and you don't trade parts of that puzzle to add other parts of the puzzle, it makes no sense - especially when DeBrincat fits this team like a glove and has excellent chemistry with quite a few players on the team....

Saad, Anisimov, Murphy, Perlini or perhaps one of the Hawks younger defense prospects like Krys or even a guy lie Entwhistle and a couple of picks could be involved in such a deal but guys like Toews, Kane, DeBrincat, Strome, Dach, Boqvist and Keith among a few others are untouchables .....

I mean the Hawks have the depth players to make a trade work but no top 3/6 stud would be coming over in a deal....

I couldn't see Bowman trading DeBrincat straight up for Rantanen, DeBrincat is a future 50 goal scorer on a much cheaper contract - that's just not going to happen, especially reuniting him with Strome...

I mean, if Rantanen is traded, it will be for a high end prospect, a top 6/9 forward that can log time on any line and a couple of high picks ....

I mean the notion that Rantanen is going to bring back a kings ransom just wont happen.... The Avs aren't getting a guy that is jut as good as Rantanen ++++ for the kid..... And I don't think teams will be offering up 4 first round picks for him via offer sheet so..... Maybe Rantanen is stuck taking Sakic's offer or just holding out like Nylander did until get gets what he thinks he's worth (to Colorado )....

At the same time I wouldn't be shocked to see him traded, just not at the demands Avs fans are expecting.....

The Hawks are building a new young contending team and you don't trade parts of that puzzle to add other parts of the puzzle, it makes no sense - especially when DeBrincat fits this team like a glove and has excellent chemistry with quite a few players on the team....

Saad, Anisimov, Murphy, Perlini or perhaps one of the Hawks younger defense prospects like Krys or even a guy lie Entwhistle and a couple of picks could be involved in such a deal but guys like Toews, Kane, DeBrincat, Strome, Dach, Boqvist and Keith among a few others are untouchables .....

I mean the Hawks have the depth players to make a trade work but no top 3/6 stud would be coming over in a deal....
- Savard2Secord

I was replying to the other poster who said the Hawks don't have any assets it takes to make a trade and that the Cat and a prospect could get it done but I don't
thinks there's anyone else on the roster outside of Kane that will get it done but he's going to Arizona per Tanner.



BTW could you imagine Kane or the Cat with MacKinnon.

Maybe Lou is sniffing around his underwear drawer again
- BringNYIhome

Lou is headed to Japan E5. They have used panty vending machines. Whenever you need a quick sniff.

I was replying to the other poster who said the Hawks don't have any assets it takes to make a trade and that the Cat and a prospect could get it done but I don't
thinks there's anyone else on the roster outside of Kane that will get it done but he's going to Arizona per Tanner.



BTW could you imagine Kane or the Cat with MacKinnon.
- gramps

Well I see Kane and Cat life-time Blackhawks... Kane has a full NMC, he's signed until he's 35 and unless something profoundly happens with Kane until then I see the Hawks giving him another 5-year extension - of course a nothing hes making now but perhaps 5x5 or something like that so he can finish off his career as a Blackhawk, the same goes for Toews ... So yea, I don't see any of the original core going anywhere unless they demand a trade....

Please explain how Chicago would pull it off, considering their cap issues and they still have to sign DeBrincat???!!!🤔

Please explain how Chicago would pull it off, considering their cap issues and they still have to sign DeBrincat???!!!🤔

Please explain how Chicago would pull it off, considering their cap issues and they still have to sign DeBrincat???!!!🤔

Please explain how Chicago would pull it off, considering their cap issues and they still have to sign DeBrincat???!!!🤔
- DEVILKNIGHT

By trading Saad, Anisimov, Murhpy and even maybe Gus or retaining 33% on Seabook and sending him off to Florida to be reunited with Q and Tallon - I mean that would clear 15 in cap space right there and would open up spots for younger defenders ..

Would it be a tricky and logistical moves, yea but that doesn't mean it's not impossible ..

Do I think it's going to happen? probably not but who knows, Stan seems to have surprises up his sleeves.

1. To screw them and make them overpay?

3. Well I guess he should be happy with $3.5 something mill per year? Because I that’s all they have in cap space right now I believe.

4. Gardiner rumor makes total sense. Sabres second best LHD is probably Pilut.
- Jammerz04

On Gardiner...

'The Sabres are definitely interested...but only in three years." EK

Really?!?

This is just bizarro world. Maybe if we say two things very slowly they can be comprehended.

#1 There. Is. No. Offer. That. Any. Team. Can. Make. For. Mikko. Rantanen. That. The. Avs. Cannot. Match.

None. Zilch. Zippo. Nada.

That's the way it works when you have more cap space than anyone else. It's not difficult, you can figure it all out with 2nd grade arithmetic.

#2 The. Avs. Are. Not. Remotely. Interested. In. A. Big. Bag. Of. Crap. For Mikko. Freaking. Rantanen.

Yeah, the Avs can't expect Alex DeBrincat for Mikko Rantanen, they'd just have to settle for "Anisimov, Perlini, Mitchell/Nylander, 1st & 2nd round picks in 2020."

WTF? Does anyone think any Avs fan and more importantly anyone in Avs management is even remotely interested in Alex DeBrincat for Mikko Rantanen let alone a bunch of feces including a guy that the entire league still isn't finished laughing at Chicago for acquiring a few days ago? Seriously? And please refer to #1 above and explain why anyone is even discussing the Avs trading Rantanen?

Just remember, the genius who's telling you that a team with a million in cap space is going to offer sheet a player on a team with 23 million in cap space is the same person who put this gem out into the world exactly two years and two days ago:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...eam-Tues-Buzzcast/1/86395

Nobody in the NHL has done a better job of CAP management than Joe Sakic.

His moving Duchene was pure genius.

The contract with MacKinnon is the best value of any deal in the NHL.

Switching up Kadri for Barrie makes the Avs forwards competitive with any team in the league. But, you have to wonder if their D will be good enough as it is currently constructed.

CAP space is precious. Over the next couple of seasons and into the new CBA financial space will become even more valuable. Teams that fail to sign their elite players to extended term deals as they are coming off their entry level contracts will be punished severely in the long term.

At the same time, teams giving long term mega deals to older players (Tavares, Duchene, Karlsson et. al.,) will be crushed by the new value system being put in place.

NHL forwards hit career performance highs around age 25 and begin a precipitous output decline around age 28 (there are very few exceptions). All teams are going to learn soon enough that you are going to have to allow some players to walk away at age 29.

Sakic will sign Rattanan (age 22) to a long term deal that fully values his elite credentials and his youth.

Teams that sign 29 year old players to CAP warping contracts are putting up huge dollars to purchase what was previously accomplished. Every data set we have shows a 29 year old player has already begun the perilous slope of the back end of their career.

Sakic will wisely nail down his deal with Rattanan and the rest of the league needs to pay attention to his approach on contracting.

This is just bizarro world. Maybe if we say two things very slowly they can be comprehended.

#1 There. Is. No. Offer. That. Any. Team. Can. Make. For. Mikko. Rantanen. That. The. Avs. Cannot. Match.

None. Zilch. Zippo. Nada.

That's the way it works when you have more cap space than anyone else. It's not difficult, you can figure it all out with 2nd grade arithmetic.

#2 The. Avs. Are. Not. Remotely. Interested. In. A. Big. Bag. Of. Crap. For Mikko. Freaking. Rantanen.

Yeah, the Avs can't expect Alex DeBrincat for Mikko Rantanen, they'd just have to settle for "Anisimov, Perlini, Mitchell/Nylander, 1st & 2nd round picks in 2020."

WTF? Does anyone think any Avs fan and more importantly anyone in Avs management is even remotely interested in Alex DeBrincat for Mikko Rantanen let alone a bunch of feces including a guy that the entire league still isn't finished laughing at Chicago for acquiring a few days ago? Seriously? And please refer to #1 above and explain why anyone is even discussing the Avs trading Rantanen?

Just remember, the genius who's telling you that a team with a million in cap space is going to offer sheet a player on a team with 23 million in cap space is the same person who put this gem out into the world exactly two years and two days ago:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...eam-Tues-Buzzcast/1/86395
- FoppaForever

Take Ek for what he is. A Hall of Fame Troll who's sole purpose is to provide shock value to get clicks which make him money. He specializes in talking out of his a$$. He's flavour of the day.

He's provided a place where fans can come to talk about hockey. Outside of the Flyers there's not much hockey knowledge there. Especially the Western Conference.

But don't expect anything factual. Most people here know he's completely full of $hit. He knows that we know he's full of $hit. But we still come to his site and make him money. He's been lying for so long that he actually believes he's the fake person he's portrayed himself to be. Everyone knows Rantanen isn't going anywhere.

But he got you to respond. He got a few Hawks fans fantasizing about their team adding him to their roster. Set the bait. Get the click. Make Money. That's the genius of Ek. This time of the year we can expect more shock value and ridiculous rumours pulled from Ek's a$$.

His formula works. It is what it is. He'll make a $hit ton of money off all these RFAs. Especially Marner. Today it was Rantanen. Tomorrow will be Point. Then Laine. Then Connor. Rinse and repeat. The more outlandish the better. Get the clicks. None of it is true. Ek is entertainment. Not a hockey source.

Gotta make more stuff up to get clicks, hmmm

Take Ek for what he is. A Hall of Fame Troll who's sole purpose is to provide shock value to get clicks which make him money. He specializes in talking out of his a$$. He's flavour of the day.

He's provided a place where fans can come to talk about hockey. Outside of the Flyers there's not much hockey knowledge there. Especially the Western Conference.

But don't expect anything factual. Most people here know he's completely full of $hit. He knows that we know he's full of $hit. But we still come to his site and make him money. He's been lying for so long that he actually believes he's the fake person he's portrayed himself to be. Everyone knows Rantanen isn't going anywhere.

But he got you to respond. He got a few Hawks fans fantasizing about their team adding him to their roster. Set the bait. Get the click. Make Money. That's the genius of Ek. This time of the year we can expect more shock value and ridiculous rumours pulled from Ek's a$$.

His formula works. It is what it is. He'll make a $hit ton of money off all these RFAs. Especially Marner. Today it was Rantanen. Tomorrow will be Point. Then Laine. Then Connor. Rinse and repeat. The more outlandish the better. Get the clicks. None of it is true. Ek is entertainment. Not a hockey source.
- gergeswillems

He isn't even entertainment. The site exists because of the discussion threads, and even that is only because we are bored.

Take Ek for what he is. A Hall of Fame Troll who's sole purpose is to provide shock value to get clicks which make him money. He specializes in talking out of his a$$. He's flavour of the day.

He's provided a place where fans can come to talk about hockey. Outside of the Flyers there's not much hockey knowledge there. Especially the Western Conference.

But don't expect anything factual. Most people here know he's completely full of $hit. He knows that we know he's full of $hit. But we still come to his site and make him money. He's been lying for so long that he actually believes he's the fake person he's portrayed himself to be. Everyone knows Rantanen isn't going anywhere.

But he got you to respond. He got a few Hawks fans fantasizing about their team adding him to their roster. Set the bait. Get the click. Make Money. That's the genius of Ek. This time of the year we can expect more shock value and ridiculous rumours pulled from Ek's a$$.

His formula works. It is what it is. He'll make a $hit ton of money off all these RFAs. Especially Marner. Today it was Rantanen. Tomorrow will be Point. Then Laine. Then Connor. Rinse and repeat. The more outlandish the better. Get the clicks. None of it is true. Ek is entertainment. Not a hockey source.
- gergeswillems

Yep, you're 100% correct.

Yes, Calgary signed that tkachuk extension months ago. Tampa locked up Point over a year ago. Colorado got Rantanen don Dee last week. I can't understand why the leafs can't be like these teams and get poop done.
- Njuice

Just go with the joke, bud. Just go with the joke.

This is just bizarro world. Maybe if we say two things very slowly they can be comprehended.

#1 There. Is. No. Offer. That. Any. Team. Can. Make. For. Mikko. Rantanen. That. The. Avs. Cannot. Match.

None. Zilch. Zippo. Nada.

That's the way it works when you have more cap space than anyone else. It's not difficult, you can figure it all out with 2nd grade arithmetic.

#2 The. Avs. Are. Not. Remotely. Interested. In. A. Big. Bag. Of. Crap. For Mikko. Freaking. Rantanen.

Yeah, the Avs can't expect Alex DeBrincat for Mikko Rantanen, they'd just have to settle for "Anisimov, Perlini, Mitchell/Nylander, 1st & 2nd round picks in 2020."

WTF? Does anyone think any Avs fan and more importantly anyone in Avs management is even remotely interested in Alex DeBrincat for Mikko Rantanen let alone a bunch of feces including a guy that the entire league still isn't finished laughing at Chicago for acquiring a few days ago? Seriously? And please refer to #1 above and explain why anyone is even discussing the Avs trading Rantanen?

Just remember, the genius who's telling you that a team with a million in cap space is going to offer sheet a player on a team with 23 million in cap space is the same person who put this gem out into the world exactly two years and two days ago:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...eam-Tues-Buzzcast/1/86395
- FoppaForever

There is also another strategy....

Perhaps these GM's are waiting for offer sheets on their RFA's to set their "market value".... Maybe these GM's are like; "Ok well if you think (Marner, Laine, Rantanen etc.) are worth $XX,XXX,XXX then look around the league, and if you're given an offer sheet we may match, if not well there is always an offer here on the table you can sign right now"....

I mean that would be my strategy.... Let the free market dictate a high profile RFA's value..