Quoting: Bluejackets2000
It won't happen, because the Jackets have team control AND cap space.
They will match any offer for PLD, and make it clear to everyone in the league that they will keep him.
GM's are not stupid enough (well I don't know about MB, but most won't) to offer sheet a player knowing they will not get him, only to artificially drive up the cost.
If he does, he would probably receive a CODE RED from the other GM's at the next spring GM meetings in FLA
The problem with OS's is they generally have to do more with the ownership financials than anything else. The only reason MB OS Aho was because they felt that because the way the contract was structured, Dundon may not want to pay that much money right away. Obviously they under shot because we all could tell it was a fair deal for Waddell to sign him for.
No one really understands the owners financials so its purely a guessing game but these tend to work when they are predatory in nature. Meaning if there is sent that an owner is having some troubles with his cashflow, the market the player is in isn't a high selling one, team's salary cap constrictions, etc, then that's when a rich team may try to pounce. If it is a half asses attempt like MB's on Aho then yeah ownership will decide to just take the brunt of the cost now in order to keep the player but if its one of those four 1st rounder OS's......especially if it is max bonus and loaded up front, even millionaires have a hard time swallowing 30-40 mil in a 2-3 year time frame. Some times they have their money tied up in other things which makes finding a way to borrow the money almost not even worth it anymore.
Its tricky. I think if Montreal goes all in on PLD and ownership in Columbus is as I expected, this could happen.
The code red thing is blown out of proportion. There is already some contempt between the GM's relationships due to trade talks that this will only adds to it. I don't think Dorion was very happy with the way Wilson traded for Hoffman and then traded him right away again for a better return minutes later...... OS another teams player only opens you up to being OS back. If a team is smart there isn't much they have to worry about.