2017 Free agency thread.

From... NBC PHT...

For the first time in six years an NHL team has tendered an offer sheet to a restricted free agent.

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Monday that they have tendered a five-year contract to Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho that would carry a salary cap hit of $8.45 million per season.

General manager Marc Bergevin said that Aho has accepted the team’s offer and wants to be a part of the Canadiens.

”Sebastian Aho accepted our offer,” said Bergevin. “He wants to come to Montreal. He sees our youngsters coming up in the organization and he wants to be a part of that. We’re proud, but there’s still a waiting period.”

The Hurricanes have one week to match the offer.

If they do not match it they will receive one first-round pick, one second-round pick, and one third-round pick as compensation.

According to Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the contract is structured in a way so that Aho’s base salary would be between $700,000-$750,000 per season, with the rest of the money coming in the form of bonuses.

That includes approximately $21 million in bonuses in the first 12 months of the contract.

“When you make an offer like that, we saw a vulnerable position,” said Bergevin. “The offer, with the compensation and the youngsters we have, we realized that it was the best chance we had to get the player.”

 

I don't know, not sure, maybe there's an option where they offer higher than the offer sheet. I think that's what some analysts were saying, wasn't paying real close attention.

 

Tyler Ennis goes to the Sens for $800K.

 

No. Carolina may not alter the deal that Aho signed with Montreal. They can accept it and get to pay almost the entire contract in bonuses (the Habs know that's anathema to the Canes), or take the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd picks. They cannot trade him for one year after they accept the contract.

However, they may choose to negotiate a deal and trade him before accepting. Since he has signed with Montreal, that's the only team that they could trade with. I think the most likely outcome is someone like Drouin goes to Raleigh and Aho goes to Montreal.

 

They have to match it, they'll get a loan for the $21M if they have to.

 

Yeah, deal can't be changed. Montreal is playing some real dirty pool - but the kind of pool that you'd want your team to be playing, too...

I hadn't thought about the fact that the hard money cost is what's offputting to Carolina. Their season ticket numbers just hit franchise highs, this offseason. It's going to be interesting how they handle this. You'd have to think that losing Aho would be unacceptable to all involved.

 

The Islanders supposedly offered Panarin more money, I wonder why he didn't go there?

 

Blackhawks sign Lehner to a one year deal worth $5M.

Very underwhelming

 

Isles sign Varlamov to a 5 year/$29.5M deal.

 

Islanders get a Russian to hold down the net until the real Russian is in there in a couple years.

 

I think Waddell was with the Wings way back when Carolina tried to pinch Federov from Detroit. Now Waddell is in Carolina and still putting up with this stuff.

 

Canucks shore up the Defense signing Myers and Benn.

 

They're calling the Stars the big winners of the day, (Perry, Pavelski,Sekera), three vets.

 

Isn't it Linus Soderstrom?

 

Canes will match offer sheet

 

This is what Waddell said;

“This was an easy decision,” said Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell in a statement. “Sebastian is one of the best players in the league and the centerpiece of what we’re building here. We’ve spoken to him throughout this process and he’s made it clear that he wants to be in Raleigh and be a part of this organization.

“It’s our job to manage our cap space as our players develop and hit free agency. There was no concern at any point that we would not be able to match this contract. Once again, the Carolina Hurricanes should not be underestimated. We have a plan and all the resources to win a Stanley Cup.”
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I found it interesting that Waddell says they have been in contact with Aho and that Aho has made it clear he wants to remain in Carolina... so my question is, why did he (Aho) sign the offer sheet from Montreal in the first place? Did Aho orchestrate a raise for himself?

 

Money talks, sure he would like to stay, but if they don't want to pay him what he's worth.

 

You always take leverage when you can get it. Signing Montreal's offer meant that Aho would get that from either team. If he feared Carolina would potentially offer him less, then signing the deal means he knows what he's getting. With an RFA, you usually don't have leverage in the first place, so it helps.