Quoting: aadoyle
Pierre lebrun reported it yesterday. If any team wants to get in on Ekholm the bidding price starts with an elite prospect, a 1st round pick and another asset (another prospect or good player). Vesalainen does not sway the needle and Niku has little to no value at this point for Nashville.
Yes I saw that just now. Idk, “elite prospect” is a very vague but also specific term. Imo, an “elite prospect” is a perfetti or heinola on the jets. That’s it. No one else is “elite”. Now if he means A prospect, the jets have a few of those in samberg, chisholm, Vesalainen and Stanley...maybe even smith. Now to your point of Vesalainen not moving the needle, I think he does. He’s only 21, he’s nhl ready (looked really good in the games he played...in fact, good enough that Maurice put him in the top 6), and he has top 6 potential. He’s also already at a middle 6 level imo. Therefore, I think he would be of interest as the centre peice of the deal. Now, that leaves niku. Apparently they are interested in him so...
Therefore, I do think that this is a competitive offer compared to other teams.in fact, unless Toronto or philly comes along and offers Robertson, lilegren, or frost, I don’t see any team really beating that.
On a separate note, don’t think defence is the issue anymore for the leafs. And adding ekholm to their 3rd pair won’t be worth it imo