The Carolina Hurricanes shot back at the Montreal Canadiens yesterday by submitting an offer sheet for Jesperi Kotkaniemi, but even if they hadn’t there was some concern over the young center’s future in Montreal. Darren Dreger of TSN tweets that earlier this summer, some close to Kotkaniemi predicted that he had already played his last game with the Canadiens. The interesting part, however, is that now he has signed an offer sheet, Montreal can’t trade him for a year even if they decide to match it.
As CapFriendly explains, it would basically mean that the young forward would get a no-trade clause for a year, meaning he’d be earning that entire $6.1MM contract in Montreal. The Hurricanes apparently tried to trade for Kotkaniemi before tendering the offer sheet, but have now tied the Canadiens’ hands in more ways than one.
- The Ottawa Senators have a restricted free agent of their own still to sign, as Brady Tkachuk still doesn’t have a deal for this season. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia writes that though things are quiet on that front, it is believed that the Senators are trying for an eight-year contract for their young winger. There’s a brand new comparable to bring up in those talks after Andrei Svechnikov signed his eight-year, $62MM extension in Carolina. Svechnikov was selected just two picks ahead of Tkachuk in 2018 and the two forwards have very similar career stats to this point. Garrioch suggests that if Tkachuk does sign an eight-year deal, it very well may come with the captain’s “C.”
- At the very end of his piece on Tkachuk, Garrioch includes another short note about RFA forward Logan Brown. The scribe suggests that Brown “could be dealt before camp” and remains unsigned at the moment. Now 23, the 11th overall pick from 2016 has just 30 games of NHL experience under his belt, something he and his agents have expressed frustration about in the past. The 6’6″ forward has played very well at the AHL level, racking up 79 points in 94 games, but has never received a lengthy chance in the NHL. It’s hard to see exactly where he fits in now that the Senators have so many other young forwards and Brown is now eligible for waivers. A fresh start makes sense, though obviously, it remains to be seen if GM Pierre Dorion feels the same.
A pair of toast, the eggs side by each, Kotkaniemi and the bacon parallel.
Habs would be lucky to get a 1st and a 3rd for KK. He’s not worth $6.1 million. The guy is a third line centre at best right now and a healthy scratch every other night. Take the picks and run Bergevin. But in all seriousness hopefully a change of scenery will help his career and he doesn’t end up being Galchenyuk 2.0.
The problem with Brown right now is that he still is too good of a prospect to just give away but also not worth it for the acquiring team to give too much up for him. I’d rather they just give him a spot and just bite the bullet if he ends up busting or being injured too often.
Brown is a big player. There’s a rule that big players take about 400 games if experience to breakout and turn into a star. I think brown will do that look at his AHL numbers. I think your right give him a spot in the lineup he needs to play. His value isn’t very high right now.
The deal is for one year so it essentially means he’d be stuck in Montreal. The whole idea of not being able to trade him for a year is mute
Habs already messed up taking KK over Tkachuk. Might as well get the assets and move on.
Isn’t Aho a center now? With Trocheck and Staal behind him?
Who is moving to wing?
6.1M 4th line center!
I would say possibly Staal moves to Left Wing as some Depth Charts such as Cap Friendly has him listed as C-LW, also have to replace Foegle and McGinn
link to capfriendly.com
Kotkaniemi.
Sens should sign Tkachuk to an 8 year deal. Love that player.
But that will also give you his prime and end just in time for the inevitable power forward breakdown.
Agree on this. As Ken Campbell of the Hockey News wrote at the time of that draft, looking back 10 years later, Tkachuck will be the concensus #1 pick from that draft. The kind of player everyone wants to play with but not against.
IMO, the Canes did the Habs a favor by offer sheeting Kotkaniemi. A 1st and 3rd is as good a deal as you could get for Kotkaniemi, so take the picks and let Waddell overpay for the kid. Ryan Poehling is ready to take over JK’s spot anyway.
Good on the Canes…Montreal has no real option but to match….there CENTER depth is weak without KK….Suzuki, Evans and maybe Poheling…who is the 4th and 5th centre…with Danault gone, they have to match and keep KK at an over inflated value…..only way is if they can flip the 1st and 3rd with as part of a combination to Sabres for Eichel….I don’t think the Sabres r looking for draft capital…they r looking for young nhl ready players like KK amongst other assests
Habs could let Kotkaniemi go and sign someone like Bozak to fill the gap temporarily. I think he can score 5 goals next season too.
Yeah! I think he’ll be good enough for 10 points