Me too man! Also, I think that is EXACTLY what Rantanen should get an will get.

I don’t. The longer they hold the more interesting the league will be

ur only saying that cuz ur RFAs signed for dirt cheap lmao

Glad my guess agrees with yours

We will have to wait for training camp. RFA’s are waiting on marner. When he doesn’t report to training camp we will have to see if any of the rest are willing to hold out.

I pray to my god Doug Wilson every night

Yeah I don't really expect anyone to break now, nor did I in all of August. But I figured as we get close to the season, as you say likely training camp itself, I am hopeful one of the others will break. Once one breaks the market is more established.

I do believe in the domino effect and I think Marner is deffinetly the one to watch, but I think its almost a two tier market. The top being Rantanen, Marner, Point and then the second being Tkachuk, Connor, Laine , Boeser and Konecny.

I think we are likely to see contracts follow for those who are closer to a comparable for the player who signs first. So if Marner was to sign, I believe that we would see Rantanen and Point follow and then have some sort of traction begin on the secondary RFA tier situations, but I do not think that makes the contracts fall immediately or potentially close after.

But time will tell I guess.

Keep in mind that I only mentioned the high end forward RFA's

I think this summer had a three tier market and an asterisk.

The four superstars: point, Aho, Rantanen, Marner

The stars who aren't quite superstars: Tkachuk, Boeser, Connor, and Meir

The good young forwards: Konecny, labanc, etc.

The asterisk: Laine. He is too unique. Until December 1st he was arguably generational. Then he hit a wall and stank for 2/3 of a season. I don't know how to value him

Note also tkachuk is close to the bottom of the top group

I can agree with that.

To touch on the Laine subject, his uniqueness is what makes his situation interesting. I think he still can be seen as generational, I mean there is only one comparable to him in the league and that is Ovechkin. That being said I don't think its fair to simply strip that status away from Laine for going through some growing pains for one season where, in the end, he still put up 30 goals. He is third in the league for scoring since entering and provided he can start of right this year, will continue to build off of that, if not improve.

I think its fair to say that right about now he is in the middle between the 1st and 2nd tier, and it is going to take more than just next season to determine where he truly is in those conversations.

That's where a 3ish year bridge deal would fit nicely as it allows him time to improve on things he needs to and mature while also settling in to where he belongs in the leauge, which in my mind is still a generational goal scorer,

What's the latest date they could sign and be at full camp?

Sept 12th 2 days travel time to came on Sept 14 for physicals?

Agreed.

Tkachuk for all intensive purposes could be considered in the first group. He won't be the highest point getter out of those players but brings a quality that the others don't that makes up for the lack of points totals. A player that can score 70-80+ points and that can get under other superstars skins and play a rough brand of hockey is still super valuable in today's NHL. its just not as flashy as what the others do.

Sure. But the thing is he really could be above the top tier. But you can't pay him like that as his game fell off a clip.

I agree with you the best move with him is a true bridge