I think Rantanen will end up getting at least 8m, if not more.

Also, I have a hard time seeing that OTT pick be first. Who knows though.

Sorry to crush your dream but aint happening

1. I don't see the Avs being willing to move EJ. He's a great defensive defenseman, and they don't have a clear replacement. Timmins could be that guy in a year or two, but he's probably not ready to be a top four defenseman on a playoff team. The more likely scenario is that they just sign a UFA forward instead of giving up all that for Nylander.

2. Rantanen will most likely demand more than that. Something in the range of 8-9M sounds about right for him given the season he's having right now.

If Rantanen keep this up, he's going to get over $8 million. Since playing full time in the NHL starting in 2016 he's been one of the top 10 producing RWer's in the NHL. Here are the RW's that have more points than Rantanen since 2016, along with their cap hits:

1. Kucherov - ($9.5 million)
2. Kane - ($10.5 million)
3. Wheeler - (8.25 million)
4. Kessel - ($8 million)
5. Pastrnak - ($6.66 million)
6. Voracek - ($9.25 million)
7. Tarasenko - ($7.5 million)
8. Marner - ($894k)

Marner obviously throws things off since he's on his ELC and lets be honest, Pasta is grossly underpaid. I could see Rantanen getting something like an 8yr/$80 million deal. Why? Think about the money that will be tossed at a Matthews, Marner, Laine. Rantanen has outproduced Laine since 2016 and is right there with Marner. Then of course you look and see Eichel just got $10 million per season. Sure you can argue the C/W value if you want, but teams are spending big money to lock up productive young players.

The way Ottawa is playing right now, There's no way in hell you're getting Hughes with their 1st rounder.

We never know with the support of lady luck.... First try of the lottery simulator on Tankathlon this morning and that's it !!

Top 12

PICK TEAM GP RECORD PTS PPG ROW STREAK L10 TOP 3 #1 OVR
1 +11 Ottawa (COL) 21 9-9-3 21 1.000 9 Lost 1 5-4-1 8.2% 2.5%
2 +1 St. Louis 19 7-9-3 17 0.895 7 Lost 2 5-5-0 33.9% 11.5%
3 +4 Anaheim 22 8-9-5 21 0.954 6 Lost 3 3-4-3 20.4% 6.5%
4 -3 Los Angeles 20 7-12-1 15 0.750 6 Won 1 5-5-0 49.4% 18.5%
5 -3 Vegas 22 9-12-1 19 0.864 8 Lost 1 4-6-0 38.8% 13.5%
6 -2 Pittsburgh 19 7-8-4 18 0.947 7 Lost 4 1-7-2 28.8% 9.5%
7 -2 New Jersey 19 8-9-2 18 0.947 8 Lost 2 3-6-1 26.1% 8.5%
8 -2 Edmonton 20 9-10-1 19 0.950 9 Lost 2 3-7-0 23.3% 7.5%
9 -1 Vancouver 23 10-11-2 22 0.956 9 Lost 6 3-5-2 19.0% 6.0%
10 -1 Detroit 20 9-9-2 20 1.000 7 Won 1 8-2-0 16.0% 5.0%
11 -1 Chicago 21 8-8-5 21 1.000 8 Won 1 2-5-3 11.4% 3.5%
12 -1 Philadelphia 20 9-9-2 20 1.000 8 Lost 3 5-3-2 9.8% 3.0%

Firstly that trade for Nylander is horrible, secondly I doubt we get the first pick and land Hughes, thirdly I hope it's still lottery and hits second so we can take Kakko instead.