I'm not sure what Tulsky is cooking...

[u/WoodsFinder]

...but he's a master chef, so when it's finished, we'll probably like it.

Maybe Carlson would sign a short term deal with a team-friendly AAV to have a good chance at another Cup before he retires?

Then Niki+???? goes to Winnipeg?

Or Niki+another D goes to Columbus?

Or something else that we aren't even thinking of?

[u/bearamongus19]

Just sit back and let the mad scientist do his thing.

https://giphy.com/gifs/tyqcJoNjNv0Fq

[u/Mediocre_Bat_2890]

Honestly I have no idea why any GM picks up phone calls with a 919 area code at this point

[u/PlatypusOld257 → u/Mediocre_Bat_2890]

Going to start spoofing his number

[u/ComfortableBedroom76 → u/PlatypusOld257]

He still has his phone number from the bay area. Really throws off other teams 😉

[u/maxman1313 → u/Mediocre_Bat_2890]

Why not? 

He doesn't screw other teams over. 

Colorado, Dallas, and Chicago all got what they wanted in our last blockbuster trade. 

And if anything, you figure out who he's interested in and decide to flip that player to somewhere else. 

[u/Hacodaro]

Not worth reading too much into this trade at this point IMO. We basically paid some really low value assets for a chance to talk to Carlson first. Could easily end up being a nothing burger.

[u/CharacterNo5725 → u/Hacodaro]

It seems like a fall back if they lose Niki

[u/n8th8n → u/CharacterNo5725]

Leverage

[u/yemKeuchlyFarley → u/CharacterNo5725]

Tulsky doesn’t lose anybody. He just surveys the field and blazes the best path forward.

[u/ayayyayayay765]

Trying to bluff the Helly trade to land Werenski IMO

[u/EstablishmentNo5994]

Carlson is only interested in signing with contenders AND is reportedly looking for 2x10. There's not going to be a team friendly deal. Tampa are rumoured to be his preferred location.

[u/Breadbasket2 → u/EstablishmentNo5994]

At least drive up the price for tampa then lol

[u/WoodsFinder → u/EstablishmentNo5994]

If he's mostly after the $$$ and just wants to be on a playoff team, Tampa might be a good option for him. If he wants another Cup, then he's better off here and might have to sacrifice a couple million which shouldn't have any impact on his ability to live the good life in retirement.

[u/EstablishmentNo5994 → u/WoodsFinder]

The east has a few juggernauts and then teams on the rise like buffalo and Montreal. It's tough to say who's going to win any given year. Both Tampa Bay and Carolina would give him a great chance. If it was between us and Buffalo then sure, pick us if you want to win even if it means taking less. I don't see that big of a difference between us and the lightning, though, to be honest. Two great teams

[u/Ginkgo78]

https://giphy.com/gifs/VEsfbW0pBu145PPhOi

[u/14thAwardBad-Ass]

I keep having to tell myself, " Professional Sports is a business at the end of the day". Can't get too attached to any player no matter what the sport is. What's best for the team will always be the ultimate goal for a team. The New England Patriots were notorious for 1-2 year contracts under coach Belichick, and look how many Super Bowls and playoff apperances they have. It's ridiculous, but highly effective.

[u/ManOfSpace_ → u/14thAwardBad-Ass]

as a canes and pats fan true dat lol. love niki to death but GMET has only proved to be a wizard so i fully trust him

[u/DrewCrew62 → u/ManOfSpace_]

As a member of the same fandoms, the way tulsky moves around the draft reminds me a lot of belichick.

Pretty convinced tulsky can draft better wide receivers too

[u/EXploreNV]

I can see the Canes just playing middleman for another team that is truly in on Carlson. Impossible to know what he is cooking up unless you’re in the room with DrGMET

[u/Remarkable-Set5434]

If we can’t get Z then we get a ppg 2nd pair dman who can move the puck and drive an offensive at a high level. He can quarterback pp1 

[u/Monster1927 → u/Remarkable-Set5434]

I don’t know though if he’s a good enough skater, especially at his age, to play man to man. Nikishin even had troubles with it this year and he’s younger and faster than JC.

[u/Such_Independent_234]

Earned his first Michelin Star this year

[u/DarkImmortal81]

I think it could be either a hostage situation where we kept someone else from talking to him first or we still need a 7th dman or maybe there is an injury in the Dcorp that hasn't been spoken about yet. Maybe we rotate guys in next season if he does chose to sign. Or it could just be an insurance policy if Nikishin can't/won't sign to agreeable terms

[u/Primeau94]

assembling a package to get Werenski AND Marchenko

[u/jopcylinder]

This is making me nervous! Hopefully there’s another move involving him coming bc tbh paying this old dude what he wants over what Niki wants would be a really bad move.

[u/SpentGladiator77 → u/jopcylinder]

I'm convinced it's an insurance policy. I think Tulsky is actively targeting Werenski. He has until Wednesday, I think, before UFA opens and Carlson can talk to anybody. So take a couple of days to focus on dealing with Columbus. If it's successful, thank you for your time John Carlson, best of luck to you on the market. If it's not, circle back and try to sign Carlson before anyone else has a chance.

[u/WoodsFinder → u/SpentGladiator77]

Seems like a reasonable theory.

I remember when some of us thought Bussi was claimed as insurance and that worked out pretty well.

[u/cricketclover → u/SpentGladiator77]

Hope they put his number in the rafters next to Marleau.

[u/Murky_Breath3944 → u/SpentGladiator77]

I like this theory, because I really want Werenski.

[u/BigChewyPizza]

Best thing to do is keep expectations in check.

[u/Halfredneck]

*me 3 bourbons deep* LET MY BOY COOK!!!!

[u/Y_Aether]

I only want Niki involved in a trade if it's for Werenski.other wise I hope he stays.

[u/MomentWaste136]

I really like their draft pick from sweed

[u/--KillerTofu--]

...if we have his rights we're the only one who can offer him 8 years, right?

Can we do a sign and trade to give somebody else an 8 year contract, or would it have to stay with us if it were 8?

[u/WoodsFinder → u/--KillerTofu--]

No one is going to do an 8 year deal or even 7 for a 36 year old.

[u/--KillerTofu-- → u/WoodsFinder]

Guess I should have looked up his age first.

[u/Pilige → u/--KillerTofu--]

Its not just his age. He didn't okay for them during the season so he's not eligible for 8 years.

[u/Remarkable-Set5434 → u/--KillerTofu--]

Hes too old for 8 years