LTS

Video, and then submit to USA Hockey and the media. It's about the only way you have to create change these days. It's why I record every hockey game my kid plays in. It has nothing to do with watching video to improve and everything to do with providing evidence should it be needed.

Yes, Brayden Point and Sebastian Aho have the same agent, Gerry Johannson. The word is that Montreal was looking at Point and Johannson steered them to Aho with the idea of the offer. Johannson's agency (The Sports Corporation) represents Brendan Gallagher, Carey Price, Joel Armia, and a couple of other Canadiens. They actually represent a lot of players (33 according to Forbes). So, Tampa is near the cap and wants to let Point sit (and hope there is no offer sheet). In order to establish a comparable, the agent encourages Montreal to create a great offer sheet for Aho (and a fair one). One that gets his client to UFA status in his prime. Aho is happy with the money and signs. Carolina agrees to the terms. Aho wins no matter what, he gets paid and he hits UFA. So, that leads to the agent returning to Tampa and telling them. Hey, Aho just got this. There's your comparable, step up. Because if you don't, Montreal might be back knocking on the LIghtning's door with an offer sheet to Point. Which, if Tampa matches, will put them over the cap ($7.9M). They will need to move cash out somewhere in order to make it happen. and still will have very little to sign the rest of the RFAs. It also handcuffs a division rival. Now, if I were Montreal, I might threaten the offer sheet and see if I can't shake something else out of Tampa. Tampa signed Schenn and McElhinney. They have to be looking to ship out Domingue ($1.1M) and another D just to free up space. That's still not much as I assume they aren't getting rid of Hedman/McDonagh. In any event, you have to figure Point is going to push for the same 5 year term... that's going to strap Tampa fierce unless they consider trading out a big gun.. because they are going to also have to sign Sergachev and Cirelli next year. Anyway, the agent part of the theory comes from Twitter (@theFlopFIsh) and mentions by LeBrun, but it seems quite plausible given how easily Carolina matched the sheet. And it certainly makes one think about how agents can also play in this game when they represent a few big names at the right time.

Everything I am reading points to the agent using a relationship with Bergevin to help his cause and ultimately put more pressure on Tampa.

If only the world could live by this motto... Good lord, I hated NYC. The good news is that I have not been there in so long now that I might almost find it tolerable for a few minutes before I go back to hating it. But, he did have a preference, and he was able to take action to help make that happen. Now he's back in Buffalo, and will be able to go wherever he pleases after next season. Hopefully it results in an asset for the Sabres.. be it the player himself or something acquired via trade.

Ahh, right.. well then. Either way.. I'm not too worried about it (you knew that). Botterill seems to be much more a trade person and has said so. Right now a lot of teams are doing really stupid things that are not going to amount to much next season. It should be fun.

You might be operating a bit too linearly. Just because the Habs offer sheet was accepted after the Sabres acquired Vesey does not mean the Sabres didn't know what the offer would be that they would have to beat. In fact, they may have decided that they did not want to go that route when Montreal stepped up and then decided to go get Vesey. Gah, I was trying to get that into the post but was failing. It's classic though. I need to retrain myself on the embedding tweets...

You shouldn't assume they couldn't or didn't. Aho has to choose whose offer to sign. But my guess is that the massive immediate payout was not something the Sabres wanted to contend with.

Right, my guess is Montreal won the the race on who pays out the fastest. This signing bonus is a huge amount of money to pay out in the next 2 weeks basically. Buffalo would have had to be willing to do that (and of course, if they were, Aho would have had to wanted to sign with Buffalo as well). If he rejected Buffalo then there's nothing to be done about it. It is.. the 1,2,3 picks are easier to absorb than four 1sts. I would trade next years 1,2,3 for any of those players. The 4 firsts? I'd have to hope I develop talent so that I can spin one or two out in a trade to re-acquire a 1st round pick in a year or two.

Thanks... so I guess Aho must have really wanted some money right now? I'd like to think other teams (including Buffalo) were out there offering some kind of contract that might have been spread out more. Well, this should be fun. Also - anyone else think that the signing bonus to salary ratio might be a source of contention in the next collective bargaining agreement?

Not in? or not willing to pay the amount and term he was able to get elsewhere? big difference.

Curious - can the Hurricanes match and then trade Aho? So, Buffalo could call up Waddell and offer a trade for what is now known contract for Aho and offer something that includes a first, a RHD, and some other players?

I think everyone assumed that was your job. On a more serious note, you understand that in Free Agency, the PLAYERS get to choose where they sign, not the GMs right?

Well, like I saw posted somewhere (here or Twitter). He's going into UFA the following season. If he commands more as a trade during the season and the Sabres flip him for better assets, then does it matter? The game isn't over today.

I'm just waiting to see how stupid GMs get. We're seeing some signs already. Should be good.

No, I follow Harrington so I can take pot shots at his ignorant tweets. It provides a mechanism to off-set his bias with an alternate viewpoint for those who do follow him because they actually want to hear what he has to say. And, more importantly, I rarely ever tweet at him.

Spurned though? As I just tweeted at Harrington. Vesey had the option to choose between wings or pizza. He chose pizza. It doesn't mean he hates wings, he just preferred pizza.

No, it starts at noon. There is no deadline. Right now it's all posturing and projecting. It's all buzz and hype. Then... crickets.. because the big names will sign and that will be that. No real fireworks.

So he cost Buffalo 2 3rd round picks? ? Is it really an ugh? I have to just wait and see where everything plays out before I get there.

Right now it's all the big build-up.. and when the clock strikes noon, there won't be any dust to settle because it's all fictional build-up. The big names will get paid, but we won't see the offer sheet. Just can't imagine it will be there right away. It seems like GMs are hell bent on win now and use the expansion draft and lockout as ways to reset their bad decisions.

I agree, but handing them out has a risk. You agree to offer sheet a player and then there is no match the team gets saddled with that contract and loses those draft picks. So, to a certain degree a player would only ask for a reasonable offer sheet. But, given that there have only ever been a few offer sheets... it's clear there is something goofy about them.

No, the Sabres are trading Risto for the rights to retire the Sedin sweaters. Word is that Pegula wanted to give the fans something to cheer about this season. So much of it is just gamesmanship. I wouldn't be surprised if much of it comes from the players/agents just. Hell, most of the chatter out there is accomplishing the goal of GMs knowing what everyone is doing without them talking to each other and arranging it.

You guys really should quote Commodore in here... he's the real treat with his #insiderrr posts.

Scott LaChance - http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2888

So if the Sabres scratch him in the playoffs you'll be upset? Re-title this thread - "Jbot do everything GASabresIUFAN wants already" ?

Hmmm... I might have to investigate this.