Quoting: palhal
Thanks for proving my point.....again. To say being a a contending team has nothing to do with it is downright false....and you must know that. CONTENDING teams trade for upcoming UFAs close to the TDL knowing full well they aren't going to be able to sign these players. There are about 100 upcoming UFAs in 24/25, they all don't get traded because they haven't been extended.
By your logic, the Leafs should be trading all their upcoming UFA....Matthews, Nylander, Lafferty, Brodie, Giordano.
Winnipeg and Calgary got something of value for one year of PLD and Tkachuk who definitely weren't resigning long term. But they weren't Cup contenders at all. Gee, the Flames who acquired two good NHLers for Tkachuk didn't even make the playoffs, and the Jets barely made the playoffs even with PLD.
I would like the hear the conversation the Leafs/Canes would have with top of their "stars". Hey, (important player on our team). "We want your ass outta town, So hurry up and negotiate with one team will give you, so we can trade you. But if you can 't come to an agreement, hey you are welcome back to our teams for a Cup run."
No idea how I’m proving your point. Your argument is all over the place. I am saying being a contending team doesn’t take you out of having trade discussions like this. Calgary and Winnipeg were both playoff teams (usually every year) when they made these franchise altering trades. By definition makes them a contending team.
These star players made it clear they weren’t resigning. Not saying that’s what nylander is doing but they are very far apart on AAV (almost 2 mil a year). So if talks go nowhere TO has 3 options, own rental and let him walk to free agency, trade at TDL for rental value or work with nylander and his reps to find a destination where he would sign long term and work a deal to maximize value.
Saying they are a contending team and would never do that is ridiculous. Take Florida for example, they were the presidents trophy winner in 2021-22. Got swept in the second round by Tampa. The GM recognized that the team wasn’t built the way he wanted to and went out and acquired Tkachuk (a “star player” for Huberdeau and weegar also “star players”) and had an extension in place when the trade was announced.
They barely made it into the playoffs and then dummied everyone until the finals.
Toronto and Carolina would have these discussions because if they know the players aren’t going to resign, in my opinion, they are better off exploring trades to maximize the value and balance out their teams.
End of rant.