KK will be a UFA in a few short month after they don't qualify him at 6.1M

We might want to qualify him - or offer him a nice contract

Yes, ignore the fact they're closing in on a 6-7 year extension... reported by Seravalli

Carolina would rather have KK than Dvorak. He's been FANTASTIC under RBA. He's functional on the wing, but him at 4C is just unfair at times. He's physical, he's found a scoring touch, he's perfect. He's going to be the 2C moving forward.

KK holds all the cards going into contract negotiations

Mmmh? I'll believe it when I see it.

I'll be shocked if he doesn't want to go to free agency, he ain't getting too much from the canes if its long term

Reported around the 4.5 mark. KK understands that the 6 mil was firmly to get him out of Montreal.

If its not a deal that takes him right to free agency i don't buy it

He still projected to 30-35 pts this year... which makes a 4.5M contract pretty heavy... especially on a competing team like the Canes. If I were the Cane I would rather pay Necas, DeAngelo and Niederreiter handsomely than KK.

only if he wants a one year contract.

Thank you ! You understand (not hard to understand)



Why ? CAR wanted him and gave him 6.1M ! If he likes it there in CAR (probably will is fellow Fins) a long term deal is perfect for both side. He could play 2C and if not ready than Staal can play 2C



4.5M is too much for him but you are welling to pay him 6.1M ?
I don’t get the Kotkaniemi vs Dvorak
You guys wanna see KK under MSL but not Dvorak under MSL ?
Dvorak doesn’t fit the team going forward like Toffoli because they are both ‘slow’ skater, but he is worth more than Kotkaniemi

It mostly about compete timelines - We have cap space and time to develop him.

He doesn't have to sign an extension and if they dont qualify him at the minimum of 6.1M he becomes a UFA

then he still only gets 4.5x7 in free agency. why not just stay with the canes. the got him out of that dumpster fire in montreal, got paid, and has a decent shot at a cup

LOL

But do the Canes really want to sign him to that contract?

Has anybody read the dang CBA about offer sheets? Per Seravalli canes are closing in on a 6-7x4.5 deal with KK. KK does not hold the cards, and he knows that the 6.1 was only to get him out of MTL. If MTL had matched, they would have to give KK his QO at 6.1mil or not qualify him, where Carolina would sweep in and grab him. But since MTL did not match, Canes are not required to give KK his QO if he gets an extension, which per Seravalli is pretty close. There isn’t a single way KK would have had all the cards in his hand. Why else do you think it was a 1 year deal on the offer sheet? At the time KK signed the offer sheet, he knew at most he was worth 2.5mil, and that he would have a lower cap hit for his next deal assuming the OS wasn’t matched. The only way KK would have gotten his QO would have been if he was scoring at a 6.1 mil pace.

Now for the trade, KK has been better this year than Dvorak. Would I love Dvorak on the Canes, yes I would, but the ship of KK playing for MTL sailed long ago. Right now I wouldn’t even give up a second for Dvorak, but his play should get better under MSL. KK will never play another game in a Habs jersey.

And for everyone who doesn’t understand the rules surrounding an offer sheet, I will share them once again. If MTL had matched, they can NOT trade KK for 1 year and can choose to give him his QO of 6.1 mil or not qualify him at all, making KK a UFA. Whereas because they opted to not match, Carolina is NOT required to give KK his 6.1 QO if he is offered an extension, even if the extension is at a lower cap hit, and if they so chose to do, they could trade him.

yea. it's not bad.

KK's been excellent. His points per 60 minutes is a hair under 2. That's a top end 2C. Yes, sheltered, but he's been SO Good. His production doesn't do it justice.

I disagree with the last statement. After the year KK has had in a 4th line role, while Dvorak has had a top-six role... with KK being 21 and Dvorak being 26... I don't see why you think Dvorak is worth more than KK. KK has straight up out produced Dvorak. Yes more games, but very similar TOI. Kotkaniemi has also played out of position for a quarter of the year.

At the same time -
1- Dvorak got injured 3 times... so played 10 games increments between injuries
2- played under ducharme
3- with different wingers each 10 game increments

and still managed to get 16 pts in 34 games , while KK got 23 in 53 on a GREAT team.

I'm not saying that KK is trash - I actually like him and believe in his potential... but lets give Dvorak a faire shake... this habs season is abnormal for sure hahaha.

Okay? Kotkaniemi has played large chunks of the season in a position that isn't natural to him, doesn't get powerplay time, and has FAR worse linemates when he's in his natural position. Dvorak's been shaky at the best of times. Kotkaniemi has been absolutely outstanding for Carolina. You can say Carolina are a great team, sure... but Kotkaniemi is a 4th liner. He's playing with Steven Lorentz, who was passed over in his first draft because no one wanted him, and then Carolina took a flier on him in the 7th round, and Jordan Martinook, who's best quality is yelling at Svechnikov before games. The fact KK's on a great team has nothing to do with what he's done. He's not playing with Aho or Svechnikov. He's not playing with Trocheck or Necas. He's put up 23 points and tied his career high in goals (all at even strength by the way) in a sheltered depth role playing limited minutes. Kotkaniemi hasn't been settled in the lineup either due to the number of players in general Carolina have had undergo injuries and COVID etc, Kotkaniemi himself got COVID... neither has been in a great place, and KK's just been better.