But it doesn't have to be by "pissing off the player". Sit with Pinto and his agents, explain :

- Your friends (this core) are ready to compete and want to make the playoffs at all costs. We are tight with the cap for THIS season only. Next year, we'll have all the margin necessary.

- We need you to sign a 1 year bridge and then sign a long term contract as soon as next season. The great news for you is that we can ink that deal as soon as January, which is in 3.5 months.

- If you take 1.5 AAV x 1 year now but then sign 4.5 AAV on a long term contract, you end up making 6.0 M$ over the next 2 years as opposed to 5.0 M$ if you sign the 2.5 AAV x 2 years contract you wanted.


As you can see, this 1 year deal is beneficiary for both sides. It doesn't mean any disrespect or anything, just a particular context with a flat cap and the Sens having 5 M$ in dead money (that expires soon). Pinto knows he's going to be the next in line to receive a long term contract

And regarding that poster, it's more about the crazy statements that he makes, like that Mathieu Joseph is barely a 4th liner. As a Tampa fan you know this is ridiculous

Over the last 3 seasons, among the 519 forwards who played at least 500 ES minutes, Joseph ranks 273th with 1.64 Pts/60 (higher than Kubalik, Pageau, Granlund, Yamamoto, Wennberg, Laughton (lol), Hoffman, Perry, etc)

He is a defensive forward and PK specialist and yet produces like an average 8th/9th forward. He is not "barely a 4th liner" in any shape or form.

Yes big fan of #7 at least he wore 7 in TB. I generally ignore or try to a person or 2 I don't mind telling to go f-themselves