The more I think about this, the more I think the Habs take the picks and run. Good luck 'Canes fans watching this young man scoring 20 points with a -15 ratio and being paid like a regular top6 scorer.
Prior to this offer sheet, we would have been totally fine with being more patient with him but as a controlled young asset with lower manageable salary. After this offer sheet, it might have given us an out and now we can take the picks, give oppertunity to Poehling, and use KK's cap space on raises to our other kids that need new contracts in the next two years.
If the Habs match, what's stopping the Canes from trying this with Suzuki or Romanov next off season? That would be a horrible situation for the Habs cap structure and would have to make some serious trades where we take $0.5/$1 in value.
I say take the picks and give opportunity to Poehling. Our faith this next season is still 10-20 range. Then maybe we can offer sheet Necas after the Canes extend KK for more than what he is worth and get themselves into cap issues. Would not be my plan but same type of narrative that was said when we offer sheeted Aho so something to think about Canes
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Good luck with KK, I actually hope he does well cause I'm a fan but I believe it's going to be a modest growth path and painful.