if the kk offersheet was lower, the habs would have matched though

Yeah, I had that thought too. Maybe they would have, maybe after scratching him in the playoffs they would've let him go? I think a 5.5 offer still gets them a 1st and a 3rd. It's all a fantasy world, I know

the compensation is different for 5.5, its just a second round pick.

It would still be the 1st and the 3rd but MTL was more worried about the next season after cause they would have to qualify him at 6.1 again if they didn't have him signed yet.

Likely if its a 5-5.5 deal MTL matches just based off the fact that they were willing to go and get someone that was being paid 4.5 to replace him.

1) This team in itself is a MAJOR step backward from what it is right now

2) Dougie was offered 8 million. Carolina didn't want to go 8 years on him at a high AAV. That's why he was moved on. The defense is better now than it was with Dougie. I'd rather have Antti than Forsberg, call me crazy, but Raanta's won the cup. What he can do behind the scenes would have been nice. Also, Forsberg didn't want to come back. He was a Hurricane and wasn't ever going to get a chance. Kotkaniemi would have been matched if it wasn't north of 6 mil. There's a lot of issues with this. Bean just wasn't good either, I'd rather have Cole.

I think a major step back is an exaggeration. Where did you hear Dougie was offered $8mil? The highest credible offer I heard came from Civ and was at $6.2m per. The Forsberg stuff makes sense, but with the way the team plays defense, I think an average league min backup wouldn't be a huge downgrade if one at all. Bean also only played 44 NHL games before he was traded. Not sure thats enough to firmly say he wasn't good.

He was offered 8 over 6, that was reported by LeBrun. They didn't want to go long with him. This team is not good defensively, they are worse than average in terms of expected goals against. Both goalies are HUGE parts of the Canes being where they are. Going to a league minimum netminder would 100% be a downgrade. Bean was not good as a Hurricane he was very padestrian. Bean was drafted in 2016 and only made the NHL full time last year. That should tell you what the organization thought of him.

This team is 100% a massive step backward from what it is right now.

I don't believe LeBrun said that, but I could be wrong. This is the same team from the playoffs last season with a better starting goalie and better forward depth. I don't think its as far off as you're making it out to be, but we'll never know

The defensive depth takes a big step back, the forward depth is hurt, the goaltending gets worse. This team is not as good as it is now. That's just true right now.