CAROLINA HURRICANES NEWS CLIPPINGS July 8, 2019 - NHL.com
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CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Canes officially match Canadiens’ offer sheet to Sebastian Aho
By Chip Alexander season before both sides agreed to wait until the season had
ended before further negotiations. The offer sheet, and the
The Carolina Hurricanes have officially matched the offer Canes matching it, decided the contract issue and avoided a
sheet made to Sebastian Aho by the Montreal Canadiens, the potential holdout next fall had the two sides not been able to
Canes announced Sunday, setting Aho’s contract for the next reach an agreement.
five seasons.
Aho will receive a $700,000 salary in the first two years of the
The Canadiens informed the Canes of the offer sheet, signed contract and $750,000 in the final three years . His bonus
by Aho, this past Monday as NHL free agency began. Canes payments will be $11.3 million (2019-20), $9.87 million (2020-
owner Tom Dundon on Tuesday quickly responded that the 21), $6.95 million (2021-22) and $5.25 million in each of the
team would match the five-year, $42.27 million offer, and the final two years.
Canes did not wait the fully allowed seven days -- as general
manager Don Waddell indicated the Canes might -- before The offer sheet was the first in the NHL since Feb. 28, 2013,
official notice to the Canadiens and the league on Sunday. when the Calgary Flames forwarded one to center Ryan
O’Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche -- the Avs later matched
“I’m grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens but it the two-year, $10 million offer.
was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes,” Aho said in
a statement posted on his Twitter account. “As a restricted NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire, in a radio interview this
free agent I had limited options for moving along the process past week with TSN 690 in Montreal, called the Canadiens’
to get a deal done. It was always important to me to be on the offer sheet a “predatory offer” while saying the Habs were
ice for the first day of training camp. This entire situation has “cold and calculating” and aware Carolina’s gate receipts last
been difficult for me and my family, and I am happy it is at an season were about $22 million. McGuire stressed there was
end. We have a young and exciting group in Carolina and I nothing wrong with the offer, saying it was part of the league’s
can’t wait to be there with my teammates and get to work. I collective bargaining agreement,
love it in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can continue what
we started last season.” Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin, in his Monday
press conference, said the offer was the “threshold” at which
The Canadiens’ offer to Aho was for an average $8.454 million the Canadiens were comfortable. At $8.454 million a year, the
a year, with a $21 million bonus to be paid in the first 12 Habs would have given the Canes a first-round, second-round
months. The Canes had hoped to sign the Finnish center, the and third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, if the Canes didn’t
Canes’ offensive leader last season and an NHL All-Star at match the offer. At the next highest salary tier, the price would
age 21, to an eight-year deal. have been two first-rounders, a second and a third.
Aho, who set career highs in goals and points last season, and “I’m surprised someone would have thought this would work,”
the Canes began discussing a contract extension early last Dundon said Tuesday.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
With Sebastian Aho’s contract settled, the Hurricanes can look ahead to next season
By Chip Alexander Dundon quickly responded by saying Tuesday the Canes
would match the offer: $8.454 million a year for five years. He
Sebastian Aho’s sticky contract situation has been settled, called the offer sheet “ridiculous in terms of probability of
even if unconventionally for the Carolina Hurricanes. succeeding,” the Dallas billionaire saying he would have no
Goalie Petr Mrazek has been re-signed. problem writing the check to cover an offer that includes a
bonus of more than $21 million in the first 12 months.
The Canes have traded for a center, Erik Haula, and a veteran
goalie, James Reimer. “It’s nice to have it done, probably not the way we would like
to have it done,” Dundon said.
About all that’s left is a decision from the captain, Justin
Williams: will he retire or return and play on? Looking at his lineup, Brind’Amour could use Aho, Jordan
Staal, Haula and possibly Lucas Wallmark as his four centers.
For the Canes, much of the heavy lifting has been done and Haula is coming off a serious knee injury last November that
changes made looking toward the 2019-20 season. ended his season with the Vegas Golden Knights, but the Finn
“I think we’ve had a pretty good summer,” owner Tom Dundon was skating again and had been medically cleared to play had
said in an interview Tuesday. “We were pretty young and Vegas not been ousted in the first round of the playoffs.
inexperienced and now we’re a year older, better and more “It wasn’t a minor injury. It was a big, big deal,” Haula said on
experienced. We think Haula was a big add for us. We were a Monday conference call. “It was a huge setback and hard
going to bring in a forward with NHL experience and we did on me. But I’ve worked really hard and I have no doubt I’ll be
that. back at 100 percent next season.”
“So I think we’re better. We’re always looking at different Haula, 28, said he played on the same line with the Canes’
things, but it’s hard to get materially better for us because we Nino Niederreiter for a couple of years with the Minnesota Wild
have pretty good players.” before going to Vegas, so he has that familiarity. He had a
A year ago, there were numerous questions. One of the career-high 29 goals in 2017-18 for Vegas as the Golden
biggest was how Rod Brind’Amour would handle his first Knights, an expansion team in their inaugural season reached
season as a head coach in the NHL. Being an assistant coach the Stanley Cup final.
helps prepare you for that kind of responsibility. Being the “I talked to him and he thinks he’s going to be fine,”
main guy behind the bench is entirely different. Brind’Amour said. “So we’re getting another speedy forward
“Sometimes it’s almost better not knowing what you’re getting who has shown the ability to score some goals, too.”
into,” Brind’Amour said Saturday in a media scrum at PNC The Canes weren’t happy about parting with veteran
Arena. “Now I know all the stuff we have to get done. defenseman Calvin de Haan. But general manager Don
Personnel, whatever, you know what you’re missing. Waddell said concerns about a possible Aho offer sheet, and
Sometimes, if you don’t know it’s better. its potential salary-cap concerns, factored into the trade with
“I definitely feel more comfortable in these shoes in year two. the Chicago Blackhawks that brought backup goalie Anton
We’ll see how it works out.” Forsberg and defenseman Gustav Forsling to Carolina.
It all worked out last season as the Canes, out of the Stanley Waddell then brought in Reimer, working a deal with the
Cup playoffs since 2009, made a strong surge in the final 50 Florida that sent goalie Scott Darling and the final two years
games of the regular season to claim a wild-card playoff berth. of his contract to the Panthers. Unless Waddell has another
The momentum carried them to the Eastern Conference goaltending move in mind, the Canes will have Mrazek as their
finals, where the Boston Bruins, a better team, swept the No. 1 goalie, and Reimer, Forsberg and Alex Nedeljkovic
series. competing to be the backup.
Brind’Amour was not a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, “We’ve learned over the years you can’t have too many
given to the NHL coach of the year, angering many Canes goalies,” Waddell said at a Monday press conference. “It will
fans. Barry Trotz of the New York Islanders won the award as be good competition in training camp.”
Brind’Amour finished fifth in the voting. Waddell said the Canes still could look to add some depth
Did the Canes’ turnaround earn Brind’Amour a raise and players, possibly a defenseman, saying he was still “dabbling
contract extension? around.”
“Rod, when I hired him, understood it’s his job as long as he If not, the only missing piece is Williams, who is still mulling
wanted it,” Dundon said. “Rod doesn’t need a contract from things over and is an unrestricted free agent.
me. He can have it as long as he wants.” “He hasn’t given us 100 percent yet which way he’s going to
One thing Brind’Amour doesn’t have to worry about this go,” Waddell said Tuesday during a conference call. “I think
season is the potential for an extended contract holdout by he potentially could be leaning toward playing. We should
Aho, his best offensive player. Any chance of that ended when know in the near future.”
NHL free agency began Monday and the Montreal Canadiens HURRICANES ROSTER
extended an offer sheet to Aho, a restricted free agent.
RETURNING FROM 2018-19
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Forwards Goalie
Sebastian Aho Petr Mrazek
Jordan Staal ACQUIRED BY TRADE
Teuvo Teravainen F Erik Haula from Vegas
Nino Niederreiter G James Reimer from Florida
Jordan Martinook G Anton Forsberg from Chicago
Andrei Svechnikov D Gustav Forsling from Chicago
Warren Foegele LEFT VIA TRADE, FREE AGENCY
Brock McGinn D Calvin de Haan trade to Chicago
Lucas Wallmark G Scott Darling trade to Florida
Saku Maenalanen G Curtis McElhinney signed with Tampa Bay
Defensemen F Greg McKegg signed with NY Rangers
Jaccob Slavin F Patrick Brown signed with Vegas
Dougie Hamilton * F Micheal Ferland
Justin Faulk Captain’s choice
Brett Pesce * F Justin Williams, undecided on future
Trevor van Riemsdyk *-- unrestricted free agent, unsigned
Haydn Fleury
Now that the Hurricanes have Sebastian Aho locked down, focus shifts toward building
around him
By Sara Civian The reasons for waiting until that exact moment to match it
range from hilarious to practical:
The offer sheet has become so taboo in the buddy-buddy
climate of the National Hockey League that weeks ago Did they want to play with their food a bit? Waddell had told
Hurricanes GM Don Waddell almost scoffed at the idea of star me that they might wait to sign it because it “probably helps
RFA Sebastian Aho receiving one. the other team if I go and sign it immediately, and maybe I
don’t want to help them out right now.”
“There are a lot of things I have to worry about in this job,” he
said. “That’s not something I think about for one second.” Did the Hurricanes social media team want to keep dunking
on the entire universe?
Six days later, the Canadiens offer sheeted Aho. He promptly
signed the five-year, $8.454 million AAV deal front-loaded with The memes of this week will go down in history, but it wasn’t
signing bonuses. all fun and games for Aho. Those close to the situation say he
knows how this looks, and he’d been itching to release a
Though Waddell was surely surprised that statement and set things straight with the fans but couldn’t
Montreal actually did the thing, Aho’s camp didn’t come back until the papers were signed.
with an anticipated counteroffer that Friday so the writing was
on the wall. As dramatic as it all was, and as little as Waddell This is the same person I once saw flick a piece of paper into
claimed to think about the drama playing out, he didn’t seem a trash can and earnestly dab in 2019, after all.
worried about it.
The Hurricanes announced they’d officially matched the offer
“I know my summer just got better because I’m not gonna sheet at 1:16 p.m. Aho tweeted his statement at 2 p.m.
spend all summer negotiating a contract now,” he smirked to
the media 20 minutes after the news. “We’ll make a decision “I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it
and move on.” was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes,” it reads. “As
a restricted free agent, I had limited options for moving along
The Hurricanes had been saying for months that they’d match the process to get a deal done. It was always important to me
any offer sheet, then they reiterated the next day that they’d to be on the ice for the first day of training camp. This entire
match. They officially matched it Sunday, with 24 hours to situation has been difficult for me and my family, and I am
spare. happy it is at an end. We have a young and exciting group in
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Carolina and I can’t wait to be there with my teammates and All the speculation, spin zones and salt in the world don’t
get to work. I love it in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can detract from the fact of the matter: Aho is locked down for five
continue what we started last season.” years, and he is “happy” the situation is “at an end.”
Of course, no one knows what’s going on inside his head Waddell won’t have to spend all summer negotiating a
except him, but the evidence we do have corroborates what contract anymore, so the focus shifts.
he said. Countryman Teuvo Teravainen told Finnish reporters
that he’d been talking to Aho throughout the process and it What’s left to do?
was clear he would continue. The Canes recently acquired He’s already re-signed goalie Petr Mrazek, created some
another countryman, Erik Haula, who’d played with Aho on the competition for the backup goalie spot and signed a potential
Finnish national team. It doesn’t take a “source” to tell you second- or third-line center.
Carolina had publicly stated multiple times that it would match
any offer sheet, but there was private reassurance to Aho, too. Waddell hinted on a conference call Tuesday that he “thinks”
Justin Williams could be “leaning towards playing.”
As reported, the contract holdup was mostly about term for the
Canes. They were not planning on backing down from getting Micheal Ferland’s name has been perhaps unexpectedly quiet
a seven- or eight-year deal done. during free agency, but don’t expect him back on the
Hurricanes.
Waddell joked about his newfound, carefree summer but his
sentiment was serious. It’s a very real possibility that this Brock McGinn and Anton Forsberg filed for arbitration,
would’ve dragged on into the season. meaning a deal with the Canes is imminent no matter how
awkward it might be to get there.
Aho’s camp knew this, and Aho wanted to avoid a William
Nylander-esque holdout. Maybe we forgot there was a strong Based on the rest of the savvy moves coming out of the East
possibility that would happen throughout this process, but — Marcus Johansson to the Sabres for two years, $9 million,
Aho’s statement — “it was always important to me to be on most recently — the Canes could use one more piece (unless
the ice for the first day of training camp”— was a healthy they’re willing to bet heavy on the prospect pool).
reminder. Waddell’s summer got a whole lot easier, but I wouldn’t hang
up the turtleneck just yet.
The Sebastian Aho offer sheet was a loss in the short-term, but it’s a long-term win for the
Canadiens
By Olivier Bouchard was not pre-destined to fail, it did in fact force the Hurricanes
into an actual decision and a large financial commitment. And
At least we all got to enjoy a nice little spot of melodrama. An Bergevin’s logic is anything but ill-conceived. The people who
offer sheet! Fine, it wasn’t a terribly aggressive one. Carolina run Carolina aren’t idiots; they immediately understood that by
batted it back without so much as an afterthought; that fact adding Aho the Canadiens would be reducing the value of the
was more than enough for the Canadiens to be declared the best compensatory draft choice to something approaching a
big losers of the piece. second-round pick. Whether one or two first-rounders were
But that’s a bit hasty in terms of analysis and glances over the involved is mostly beside the point: the crux of this affair is
fact teams like the Canadiens probably have a structural money.
interest in exploiting that particular mechanism in the NHL’s If, as LeBrun indicates, the Hurricanes’ offer to Aho was a firm
CBA. $7.5 million for eight years, well that’s completely ludicrous.
Ok, so the reasoning offered by Marc Bergevin, who intimated The league is getting younger, teams are building their
that $21 million would be enough of a chunk to give a foundations on players in the 21 to 28 age range. It’s entirely
billionaire pause, was a bit of a stretch. Other than the Arizona reasonable for those players to seek to maximize their
Coyotes and possibly the Ottawa Senators, what NHL team incomes, which you might be surprised to learn does not
doesn’t have the financial wherewithal to pull that particular include selling off UFA years at a deep discount. If Aho signs
rabbit out of its top hat? I’m guessing you can count them on his next contract for, say, $10 million per year, he’ll have
one badly mangled hand. earned $12 million more than what Don Waddell and company
were offering. Or, if you prefer round numbers, he’ll have
None of this means it was a bad offer, however. Let us made $72 million in eight years instead of $60 million.
introduce, as evidence, this wonderful quote collected by The
Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun from an anonymous NHL GM: Dundon and Waddell can preen and do the tough-guy thing
as much as they like, I find far too many people are far too
“THIS (OFFER SHEET), LIKE THE O’REILLY ONE, WAS ILL- eager to gloss over the part where they pretty clearly tried to
CONCEIVED AND DOOMED TO FAIL FROM THE GET-GO lowball Aho. And they’re almost entirely ignoring the fact
. . . ALL THIS ACCOMPLISHES IS IT DISRUPTS THE Bergevin has just succeeded in swiftly and considerably
MARKETPLACE AND MAKE THE JOB OF MANAGERS shaking up the cost structure of a team against which his
HARDER GOING FORWARD, INCLUDING HIS OWN.’’ Canadiens battled to the bitter end in the race for the playoffs.
Far be it from me to disagree with our mystery executive, but His influence on Carolina’s finances will only increase if
I’m not entirely on board with that argument. The offer sheet LeBrun’s sources are right and Waddell “has the green light to
do something crazy” with one of Montreal’s RFAs.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
That, to me, explains why LeBrun’s anonymous GM was Canadiens must confront. Montreal tends to be severely
railing against the deal, as several of his colleagues are disadvantaged when it comes to recruiting free agents, there
doubtless doing more privately. I don’t know if it was a are not a million ways to say it. The minute a team from a more
calculated move by Bergevin and Geoff Molson, but they’ve attractive tax jurisdiction joins the race, the final spread in
just sent a message to their counterparts: play with matches, terms of salary ends up being calculated in the millions.
and you may just get burned. Any GM who is inclined to
lowball a young superstar RFA is hereby encouraged to step But in the case of an offer sheet, the Canadiens are only
back into line. competing against one other team. And if the player signs the
offer sheet (which happened!), that suggests the team in
At the end of this process, the Canadiens are anything but question is not putting its best foot forward — whatever
empty-handed. The Hurricanes will pay a ‘reasonable’ salary motives it cares to invoke for its parsimony after the fact. Thus,
to a young star, but now they will be forced to negotiate with a the Canadiens can bring their immense wealth to bear, and
player (assuming Aho is still a Hurricane in five years) on his drop it on the pressure point where it exacts the most pain.
terms, while he is at the very zenith of his prime. Steve Re-read Marc Antoine’s article, and you’ll notice Bergevin and
Yzerman’s peers let him get away with imposing a ridiculous Molson’s offer to Aho was calibrated precisely so the latter can
contract on Nikita Kucherov a few years ago, and let no one maximize his salary on the shortest possible time line.
harbour the illusion the $4-5 million he socked away hasn’t
been weaponized by Tampa. And that’s something everyone has noticed. Including but not
limited to the players who are currently residing at the top
Why should any team allow its direct competitors to benefit of CapFriendly.com’s compendium of restricted free agents.
from this kind of built-in advantage? The Hurricanes have lots
of cap space, but we’re talking about a team that is still on the So that’s why I hope the Canadiens don’t stop halfway down
upswing. Between now and the end of Aho’s deal, Carolina such a promising road.
will need to deal with the fact Jake Bean, Nino Niederreiter, Other similarly-positioned players could well be interested in
Andrei Svechnikov, Martin Necas, Justin Faulk and Dougie accepting an offer sheet, possibly even a left-shooting
Hamilton will all need new contracts. Once all those are sorted defenceman (Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski would
out, it’s going to be time to sit down at the negotiating table headline my list). It doesn’t mean that’s what it will come to.
with Aho for what promises to be a fat new deal. But if Bergevin calls a GM who is locked in talks with a
In sum, nothing that just happened is in any way a bad prominent young RFA, that manager has an interest in
outcome for the Canadiens. wrapping up a contract quickly.
Also, there is a marked tendency to underestimate the extent Otherwise he could find himself ceding control over a portion
to which Montreal and Bergevin have an incentive to go the of his salary cap, the way Carolina just did.
offer sheet route. My friend Marc Antoine Godin recently Bergevin has a large handful of chips to play with. I strongly
poked at the underbelly of the fiscal and tax realities the doubt he will hold back from slapping them down on the table.CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Hurricanes Match Offer Sheet for Sebastian Aho
Aho inks five-year, $42.27 million contract with Carolina "We said all along that we would match any contract offer,"
President and General Manager Don Waddell said on
by Michael Smith Tuesday. "It should come as no surprise from anybody that
It's officially official. we are [matching] it."
The Carolina Hurricanes have matched the Montreal Aho set career highs in his third season with the Hurricanes,
Canadiens' offer sheet to Sebastian Aho, re-signing the 21- leading the team in points (83) and goals (30) in the regular-
year-old forward to a five-year, $42.27 million contract. season and adding a team-best 12 points (5g, 7a) in 15
playoffs games.
The deal, which carries an average annual value of $8.454
million, keeps the Canes' All Star in Raleigh through the 2023- "Sebastian never wanted to leave Raleigh," Waddell said.
24 season. Aho released a statement on Twitter shortly after Sunday's
"I'm just relieved that it's done and Sebastian's not going to official announcement.
have to worry about this anymore. He's a great player and a "I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it
big asset for us," majority owner Tom Dundon said on was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes," Aho said.
Tuesday. "I'm so happy for Sebastian and so happy that he's "We have a young and exciting group in Carolina and I can't
part of the organization." wait to be there with my teammates and get to work. I love it
Less than 24 hours after Aho was tendered the offer sheet, in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can continue what we
the Hurricanes announced their intent to match within the started last season."
weeklong timeframe allotted by the Collective Bargaining The Hurricanes host the Canadiens on Opening Night on
Agreement, as if there was any question. Thursday, Oct. 3.
Aho's offer sheet matched by Hurricanes
Forward will get five-year contract worth $8.454 million in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can continue what we
annually started last season."
Sebastian Aho had his five-year, $42.27 million offer sheet The Hurricanes had seven days to match or they would have
matched by the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. received a first-round pick, second-round pick and third-round
pick in the 2020 NHL Draft as compensation from the
The 21-year-old forward was a restricted free agent and was Canadiens. They announced Tuesday their intent to match the
tendered the offer sheet, which had an average annual value offer sheet, with general manager Don Waddell calling it "an
of $8.454 million, by the Montreal Canadiens on July 1. By easy decision."
matching it, Carolina has Aho under contract at an AAV of
$8.454 million through the 2023-24 season but will not be able "There was no consideration to any other choice but him
to trade him for one year. playing for the Hurricanes," owner Tom Dundon said Tuesday.
"I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it Aho led the Hurricanes with an NHL career-high 83 points (30
was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes," Aho said."As goals, 53 assists) in 82 regular-season games last season and
a restricted free agent, I had limited options for moving along 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff
the process to get a deal done. It was always important to me games, helping Carolina advance to the Eastern Conference
to be on the ice for the first day of training camp. This entire Final.
situation has been difficult for me and my family, and I am
happy it is at an end. Selected by the Hurricanes in the second round (No. 35) in
the 2015 NHL Draft, Aho has 197 points (83 goals, 114
"We have a young and exciting group in Carolina and I can't assists) in 242 games.
wait to be there with my teammates and get to work. I love itCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Color of Hockey: Miley launches coaching career with Junior Hurricanes
Former college player looks to become role model leading Although girls' hockey is one of the fastest growing segments
girls' U-16A program of the game, men far outpace women in the coaching ranks.
Of 60,142 coaches registered with USA Hockey during the
by William Douglas 2018-19 season, 3,125 were women. Women accounted for
William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog 3,934 of Canada's 91,988 active coaches in 2017-18,
for the past seven years. Douglas joined NHL.com in March according to the latest figures available from Hockey Canada.
and will be writing about people of color in the game. Today, It's not unusual for girls to grow up playing hockey without ever
he profiles coach Jazmine Miley. having a female coach let alone one of color, Koelzer said.
Jazmine Miley aspired to become a hockey coach because "I had one female coach when I played one year of high school
she noticed something missing from the game: other women hockey at Hatboro-Horsham [in Pennsylvania]," said Koelzer,
on the ice or behind the bench who looked like her. who played for Princeton University and was the No. 1 pick in
"One of the major things was to bring diversity and change the the 2016 NWHL draft. "In college, I had some good strong
culture," said Miley, an Afro-Latino woman from Queens, New female leadership to look up to, but not in my youth days."
York, who began playing hockey at 13. "It's very rare to see a David Reaugh, the Junior Hurricanes girls program director,
person of color playing or coaching hockey. I want to be one said he first learned about Miley from North Carolina parents
of those girls for girls to look up to." who saw her work with their children at a hockey camp held
Miley, a former collegiate player, is on track to reach that goal on Liberty's Lynchburg, Virginia campus.
as the new coach of the Carolina Junior Hurricanes Under- "Everybody I talked to gave her great reviews as an instructor,
16A girls' program. as well with the camp, and as a person," Reaugh said. "Right
She was hired in May and begins work in September after after we announced her, I got three or four texts saying 'Oh,
playing 39 games from 2014-15 to 2018-19 for Finlandia that's an amazing decision or 'My daughter remembers her
University and Chatham University -- both NCAA Division III from camp.' One of the coaches tweeted 'This is an absolutely
schools -- and for Liberty University on its American Collegiate amazing addition.' It was well-received quite quickly."
Hockey Association Division I and II teams. What made Miley especially appealing to Reaugh was that her
Miley, 24, earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice hockey journey mirrors what a lot of what Junior Hurricanes
studies from Liberty but she's anxious to get her coaching girls and boys endure to play the game.
career in North Carolina started. She traveled long distances from Queens to play youth
"I want to show players that it doesn't matter who your parents hockey on Long Island and in New Jersey before leaving
are, where you come from, it's all about the attitude of what home to play at Chatham in Pennsylvania, Finlandia in
you bring to the table," she said. "When it comes to teamwork, Michigan and Liberty in Virginia.
you have to hold everybody accountable. But it's not what you Youth participation is up 39 percent in the past decade in the
say, but how you say it." southeast United States, according to USA Hockey statistics.
Kelsey Koelzer, a member of the NHL and National Hockey But accessibility to rinks remains a challenge for players and
League Players' Association Female Hockey Advisory parents.
Committee, said that although Miley's working at the youth "Our U-19 team has players from Florida all the way to
hockey level, her hiring is a significant step in women's Maryland; our U-16 team is South Carolina to middle Virginia
hockey. and we have girls that easily travel one to two hours just to
"Even taking beyond her being a female as well as a minority, come to practice," Reaugh said. "Most of the time, the answer
just her love for the game she's going to be able to instill in the to the girls down here is 'Well, go to prep school, move up
next generation of female hockey players is amazing," said North, get out of the South.' I think [Miley] fits in with the model
Koelzer, a defenseman for the Metropolitan Riveters of the which is tough it out, make sure we're showing everybody who
National Women's Hockey League. "Then you add that on top you are so that you get the right opportunities without having
of the fact that she is a female and minority hockey player, it to leave your family four years early."
sets a different precedent. She's going to be an example and Instead, it's Miley who's on the move for hockey and she
role model, someone who people really can respect and look couldn't be happier.
up to in a power position within women's hockey."
"I just knew this was my opportunity, the right opportunity," she
said.CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
NHL’s restricted free agents have proven to be untouchables
By Larry Lage can use,” Winnipeg Jets center Andrew Copp said. “It’s more
important to have arbitration rights, but you only have so many
Some of the NHL’s best, young players are available. options as a restricted player so it can be frustrating not being
Technically. able to use one of your options.”
Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Jacob Trouba are just a few Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said it’s
of the restricted free agents in a bumper crop. tough to predict if Montreal’s move would be made by another
team this summer.
Every team in the league would like to add any of those
players this summer. However, it would be a big surprise in “There’s obviously several very high-profile, very good, young
the NHL if any team tries to sign them away. players out there,” Yzerman said. “If this is a trend, I really
don’t know. I’m curious to see how it plays out.”
The Montreal Canadiens became the first franchise in six
years to extend an offer sheet to a restricted free agent earlier As good as Marner, Point and Trouba are, they will likely end
this week, hoping the Carolina Hurricanes would pass on up being re-signed rather than extended an offer sheet.
matching the $42 million, five-year deal for Sebastian Aho. The salary cap-squeezed Toronto Maple Leafs recently
Less than 24 hours later, Hurricanes general manager Don made moves to free up money to re-sign the 22-year-old
Waddell announced the franchise was going to keep its star Marner. The third-year center ranked fourth in the NHL with
forward . 68 assists and was just outside of the top 10 in the league with
Drafting and developing players is what NHL teams attempt to 94 points last season.
do well as they chase the Stanley Cup, certainly in the salary Tampa Bay does not appear to have a lot of money to spend,
cap era. And, that is one of the reasons teams are reluctant to with stars Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos counting $18
extend offer sheets to restricted free agents. million per year against the salary cap, but it will want to find
“The way the system is set up with offer sheets, it’s too a way to keep the 23-year-old Point. The center had 92 points
punitive because of the draft picks you have to give up,” said last season and has 198 in his three years in the NHL.
sports agent Kurt Overhardt, who represents Trouba. “The The New York Rangers acquired Trouba in a trade with
record has shown it doesn’t make sense for a lot of teams. Winnipeg even though they would have to sign the offensive-
Montreal took a chance, forcing a notoriously frugal owner to minded defenseman as a restricted free agent.
make a decision and he matched. But as long as you have the The Rangers invested a lot in free agent Artemi Panarin ,
cap space, you have to match.” giving him $81.5 million over seven years this week, and don’t
If Carolina chose not to match the offer for Aho, the Canadiens seem worried about an offer sheet making negotiations more
would have given up a draft pick in the first, second and third challenging with Trouba.
rounds. If Montreal offered a little more money on the offer “Restricted is the emphasized word in restricted free agency,”
sheet, it risked losing an additional first-round selection. And said agent Brian Bartlett, whose clients include restricted free
if the franchise offered Aho an average of at least $10,568,590 agent Will Butcher, who had 74 points in two seasons as a
over the course of the contract, it would have lost four first- New Jersey Devils defenseman. “The teams know it’s unlikely
round picks if the Hurricanes refused to pay Aho that much. and yet with Aho, it probably helped move negotiations along
Agents of restricted free agents attempt to use the possibility because you would assume Carolina didn’t offer the same
of offer sheets in negotiations. Teams, meanwhile, know offer structure in its contract offer.
sheets are extremely uncommon and they seem to have the “There’s always the opportunity for an offer sheet, but it has
power in talks. That is true particularly when players don’t happened once every six years and the odds are against it
have arbitration rights. happening more when you consider the thousands of players
“As an RFA you just want to be paid what you feel your value who have been restricted free agents.”
is and the offer sheet is one of a few points of leverage youCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Hurricanes officially match Canadiens’ offer sheet for Sebastian Aho
The Carolina Hurricanes have officially matched the offer “It’s our job to manage our cap space as our players develop
sheet Sebastian Ahosigned with the Montreal Canadiens, the and hit free agency. There was no concern at any point that
team announced Sunday. we would not be able to match this contract. Once again, the
Carolina Hurricanes should not be underestimated. We have
Aho agreed to a five-year, $42.27-million offer sheet with the a plan and all the resources to win a Stanley Cup.”
Canadians on July 1 giving the Hurricanes a week to match or
be compensated with a Canadiens’ first-, second- and third- The 21-year-old will receive an $11.3-million signing bonus
round draft pick. and will be owed $21 million in the first calendar year under
the new deal.
The Hurricanes had already made it clear they intended to
match the offer sheet made by Montreal after the deal was Aho sent out a statement on Twitter saying he appreciated the
signed. offer from the Canadiens but he always intended to return to
Carolina and is happy to have this difficult situation come to
“This was an easy decision,” Hurricanes general manager an end.
Don Waddell said in a press release. “Sebastian is one of the
best players in the league and the centrepiece of what we’re Aho led the Hurricanes with 30 goals and 83 points in 82
building here. We’ve spoken to him throughout this process games in 2018-19. The Rauma, Finland, native also had five
and he’s made it clear that he wants to be in Raleigh and be goals and 12 points in 15 playoff contests.
a part of this organization.
Canes officially match Habs offer sheet to Aho
The Carolina Hurricanes announced they have officially entire situation has been difficult for me and my family, and I
matched the Montreal Canadiens' five-year, $42.27 million am happy it is at an end. We have a young and exciting group
offer sheet to Sebastian Aho. The contract has an average in Carolina and I can't wait to be there with my teammates and
annual value of $8.454 million. get to work. I love it in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can
continue what we started last season."
Aho, 21, took to Twitter Sunday afternoon to release a
statement. In 2018-19, his third NHL season, Aho scored a career-
high 30 goals and 83 points in 82 games. He added five goals
"I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it and 12 points in 15 playoff games during the Stanley Cup
was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes," said Aho. playoffs where the Hurricanes were swept by the Boston
"As a restricted free agent, I had limited options for moving Bruins in the Eastern Conference finals.
along the process to get a deal done. It was always important
to me to be on the ice for the first day of training camp. ThisCAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
The Wysh List: Offer sheets and character assassinations
By Greg Wyshynski Rather, we're reminded of why we never see them, which is
that they're more trouble than they're worth.
This is the velocity of an offer sheet.
So instead of getting applauded for the effort, Bergevin gets
Within a span of 24 hours, Montreal Canadiens general slaughtered by the Montreal Gazette, which called his strategy
manager Marc Bergevinwent from lauded maverick to short- a "massive fail" and wrote: "This is just one more spin from the
sighted dupe. Sebastian Aho, the 21-year-old Carolina cynical Canadiens management team. It's an effort to distract
Hurricanes center he signed to a five-year, $42.27 million fans from the fact that they were unable to sign the guy they
contract offer sheet, went from traitorous opportunist to naïve really wanted, Matt Duchene."
soul manipulated by his nefarious agent. The Carolina
Hurricanes went from a poaching ground for an Original Six No, they weren't. That's because you have to have a player
legacy franchise to laughing off this hostile takeover like it was who wants to actually sign with your team. Matt Duchene
a sneering critique of their victory celebrations from Don wanted to play for the Nashville Predators. This was the worst-
Cherry. kept secret in hockey. He has a house there now. They
traded P.K. Subban to create cap room to sign him. He was
"It was so ridiculous in terms of probability of succeeding. If it never coming to Montreal. It's a non-starter.
was a test, it was quite an easy one," said Canes owner Tom
Dundon. Sebastian Aho, meanwhile? He wanted to play for Montreal.
Full stop. You don't sign an offer sheet if you don't want to play
Ouch. And you wonder why offer sheets in the NHL happen for the team that tendered it. So Dundon doth protest too
with the frequency of a unicorn staring at Halley's Comet while much.
eating a McRib.
"If [Aho] said it, it would be different. But he didn't. The fact
I have an unpopular opinion -- shocking, I know -- about the that an agent said it means there's no credibility to it," said the
Canadiens' failed offer sheet on Aho: it was very much a Carolina owner. C'mon, man. That's not how this works.
worthy effort rather than the "waste of time" that Dundon
labelled it. Does that mean he doesn't want to play for the Hurricanes?
Of course not. One can be of two minds: 'If they don't match,
They went fishing, got a bite, but couldn't reel the Aho tuna it's cool, because I get to play for a franchise I fancy; if they do
into the boat. Should they have added some bait to the hook, match, it's cool, because I really enjoy playing for my current
a.k.a. gone up a level on salary and draft pick compensation team as well.'
to the Hurricanes? Sure, that's a fair argument. But that wasn't
really their gambit. They were trying to get Aho in at a certain Which is essentially what Shea Weber said back in 2012.
price, with a certain compensation, and were hoping that a
combination of factors -- the $21 million of bonus money in the "We utilized the CBA the best way we could with the way it is.
first 12 months and the term that marches him to unrestricted It worked out great. I love in Nashville. The team stepped up,"
free agency and the line they were selling about Aho "wanting he said at the time.
to play for Montreal" -- would somehow jar him loose. It didn't, Oh, his agent said other things, like Aho's did. Mean things.
but the only real damage here for the Canadiens is not having Calling the Predators a rebuilding team, and claiming Weber
those draft pick assets available for a week. Otherwise, they much preferred the upward trajectory of the Philadelphia
took a shot, they missed, and life goes on. Flyers, whose offer sheet he signed. Hoping that the 14-year,
As hockey fans, we've been begging for someone to tender $110 million deal with the $52 million dollars in bonus money
an offer sheet to a player, and to have that player sign one. in the first four seasons would prove too rich for them to match.
Literally begging. Then it happens, and most of us are like, It wasn't. The Preds had already lost Ryan Suter as a free
"no, wait, we meant a successful offer sheet" while ridiculing agent to the Minnesota Wild. They weren't going to lose
Montreal for whiffing. Weber, too. So they pushed aside four first-round picks to
Sorry, but don't we want to see these fishing expeditions every make a statement and bring him back, at great cost. Well, until
summer? Don't we want that moment of exhilaration when one they traded him four years later.
team attempts to raid another, even if the effort is foolhardy? There have been only two offer sheets signed by a player
Don't we want that one out of, like, a dozen times when this since then: Ryan O'Reilly in 2013, and then Aho on Monday.
actually works? As much as we criticize the "old boys" in the general
(Hint to future offer-sheeters: Go for the third-liner in their early manager's chairs for not utilizing offer sheets, in the end,
20s on a cap-strapped team instead.) players still have to sign them. And they don't: Brayden
Point wants to stay in Tampa, Kasperi Kapanen wants to be a
Leaf (and already signed a new deal), and so on.CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Perceptions change for a general manager if they fail to snag "I think that Dundon's message helped a bit, because after
a restricted free agent they've offer-sheeted. Do perceptions years of [owner Peter] Karmanos, it was nice to be in a
change for the player? position where there wasn't a thought that we'd take the cheap
way out. If this happens three or four years ago, I don't know
I asked Scott Barry, the Predators super fan who dresses in a if Aho gets matched."
luchador mask as "The Ultimate Predator," about how he
remembered the Weber offer sheet. Heck, maybe next time it'll be the Hurricanes casting the offer
sheet line.
"I was never upset at Webs for the offer sheet. I don't think
many Preds fans were, to be honest. Offer sheets happen. If Oh and FYI: Canadiens forward Max Domi is a restricted free
anything, we were more upset with the team for letting it get agent next summer, followed by Jesperi Kotkaniemi in 2021.
that far," he recalled.
Three things about NHL free agency
"Everyone knew Shea was going to get paid, so why not just
pay the man? When the offer sheet hit, I was more worried 1. Through 4:51 p.m. on July 1, NHL teams had signed 86
that Nashville might not match. At that time, we weren't exactly players to 173 contract years and $556,835,000. Meanwhile,
flush with money or making huge contracts. As far as affecting in the NBA, the contracts signed by Kevin Durant, Kyrie
my thoughts on Shea, he had to do what was best for his Irving, Kemba Walker and Jimmy Butler totaled
family, and if Nashville wasn't going to pay, as much as I would $589,000,000, with 16 contract years. Just in case you were
have hated it, I'd still be a fan, truly -- I think most of Nashville wondering how the other half lives.
would. He and Pekka [Rinne] were the faces of the franchise 2. My favorite big signing: Joe Pavelski to the Dallas Stars at
for a long time, it'd take a very heinous act, in my opinion, for three years and $21 million. My favorite little signing: Joonas
Nashville to feel the way about Webs as we do about say, Donskoi to the Colorado Avalanche for four years and $15.6
Suter or [Alexander] Radulov." million. My least favorite signing: Tyler Myers to
(Radulov, please recall, took his talents to the KHL after three the Vancouver Canucks for five years and $30 million (though
years in Nashville.) I'm pleasantly surprised the average annual value wasn't even
higher). The signing I can't wrap my brain around no matter
2019 NHL Draft how many times I try: Brandon Tanev for six years and $21
million to the Penguins.
Things were different with O'Reilly, last seen hoisting the
Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues. 3. When the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup sometime in the
As an RFA of the Colorado Avalanche, he signed an offer next three years, the Matt Duchene trade is going to be seen
sheet in 2013 with the Flames for two years and $10 million. at the turning point of the organization. Another branch on that
trade tree: Getting defenseman Samuel Girard from the
"The ROR saga was extremely divisive in the fan base," Predators in that three-way deal, and using the Senators' pick
recalled a long-time Avs blogger who goes by the moniker last month to draft another defenseman in Bowen Byram.
'Jibblescribbits.' "I was in the minority, but I was glad he flexed Having both gave them the flexibility to move
his financial muscle a little. At the time, the Avs had gone full- defenseman Tyson Barrie to the Maple Leafs for Nazem
blown cheapskate and were coasting. But I'd say the vast Kadri, who dramatically upgrades their center depth in a
majority of the fan base turned on him and thought he was conference that demands it.
being greedy. His dad inserted himself via Twitter and it just
gave the whole proceeding a weird flavor. I'd say most Avs Listen to ESPN On Ice
fans do not like him at all. They see him as being all about the
money. I didn't though, but I am more player-sided in contracts ESPN's prospect and draft analyst Chris Peters joined us in
than most fans, I think." Bristol to analyze the first few hours of free agency in
alphabetic team order. Maple Leafs center Auston
So what about Aho? Matthews talked about being an EA Sports NHL 20 cover boy,
growing the game of hockey, and expectations for next
The smartest thing Dundon did, besides quickly matching an season (31:22). Aleksander Barkov talked to Emily Kaplan
offer sheet for a player that the Hurricanes would spend the about the new look Panthers (57:45). Listen to the whole thing
next five years trying to replace, was to completely exonerate here.
the player who signed with another team by tossing his agent
under the bus. "The question is 'do you think you should Puck headlines
believe an agent?' and you guys can figure that out," he said.
Fun look back at the history of the Canucks' jerseys. Can't wait
But Tom Edwards, a Hurricanes season-ticket holder who to purchase an Elias Pettersson 'Electric Skate' sweater this
contributes to the Section 328 podcast, said he doesn't have season.
any ill will toward agent Gerry Johannson nor to his client.
What's going to happen with Alabama-Huntsville hockey now
"They had a number in mind. The negotiation was going to that the WCHA is fracturing?
take probably the entire summer at this rate. Montreal's offer
was what they were looking for," he told me. Good piece on Wyatt Russell, a.k.a. the best part of that
second "Goon" movie.
When it comes to offer sheets and perceptions, the most
important one to Edwards is that his franchise is no longer one The top 10 bounce-back candidates after free agency. Not
to be taken for granted. holding my breath on that Cam Talbot one.CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Ryan Lambert was not a fan on that offer sheet from the Hockey tl;dr (too long; didn't read)
Canadiens.
Women's hockey is thriving on the grassroots level, even as
Looking forward to the Capitals' tough free-agent calls, the pros struggle toward a path to the future. ($)
like Braden Holtby.
In case you missed this from your friends at ESPN
Do the Blackhawks have the best goalie tandem in the NHL?
Free-agent frenzy winners and losers.
P.K. Subban plus July Fourth equals ... this.
Sebastian Aho officially re-signs with Hurricanes, says he didn't really want to join Canadiens
“I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it training camp. This entire situation has been difficult for me
was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes,” Aho writes and my family, and I am happy it is at an end.
in a Tweet.
“We have a young and exciting group in Carolina and I can’t
By Stu Cowan wait to be there with my teammates and get to work. I love it
in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can continue what we
The Carolina Hurricanes have officially matched the offer started last season.”
sheet the Canadiens made to restricted free-agent centre
Sebastian Aho. The Hurricanes finished last season with a 46-29-7 record to
take the first wild-card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Hurricanes announced on Sunday they have signed the They then advanced to the Eastern Conference final before
21-year-old Finnish centre to the five-year deal worth getting swept by the Boston Bruins. Aho posted 5-7-12 totals
US$42.27 million that has an annual salary-cap hit of $8.54 in 15 playoff games. The Canadiens have missed the playoffs
million. Aho signed the offer sheet with the Canadiens last in each of the last two seasons and three times in the last four
Monday and the Hurricanes announced the next day they years.
would match it. The Hurricanes had seven days to match the
deal and now it’s official. “I’m just relieved that it’s done and Sebastian’s not going to
have to worry about this anymore,” Hurricanes owner Tom
The deal is heavily loaded with signing bonuses that will pay Dundon said on the team’s website. “He’s a great player and
Aho $21 million in the first 12 months of the contract, including a big asset for us. I’m so happy for Sebastian and so happy
an $11.3 million signing bonus to start. After the initial $11.3 that he’s part of the organization.”
million bonus, there’s a $9.87-million bonus before Year 2,
$6.95 million before Year 3 and $5.25 million in Years 4 and Added Hurricanes GM Don Waddell: “We said all along that
5. The deal runs through the 2023-24 season. we would match any contract offer. It should come as no
surprise from anybody that we are (matching) it.”
Aho, who turns 22 on July 26, posted 30-53-83 totals in 82
games last season with the Hurricanes. Since being selected Waddell added: “Sebastian never wanted to leave Raleigh.”
by Carolina in the second round (35th overall) at the 2015 NHL
Draft, Aho has 83-114-197 totals in 242 games. After the Canadiens signed Aho to the offer sheet, GM Marc
Bergevin said: “He’s a player who wants to come to Montreal.
“I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it … He agreed to this, he believed it’s a really good offer for him
was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes,” Aho wrote and he wants to be part of the Montreal Canadiens.
in a Tweet Sunday after the contract was finalized.
“We felt this player, Sebastian at 21 years old, was the right
“As a restricted free agent, I had limited options for moving target for us.”
along the process to get a deal done,” the player added. “It
was always important to me to be on the ice for the first day of The Canadiens will open the 2019-20 NHL season against the
Hurricanes in Carolina on Oct. 3.CAROLINA HURRICANES
NEWS CLIPPINGS • July 8, 2019
Hurricanes make it official, match Aho offer sheet
By Scott Billeck “It’s our job to manage our cap space as our players develop
and hit free agency. There was no concern at any point that
Sebastian Aho will not become a Montreal Canadien. we would not be able to match this contract. Once again, the
In one of hockey’s worst kept secrets over the past week, the Carolina Hurricanes should not be underestimated. We have
Carolina Hurricanes officially matched an offer sheet for their a plan and all the resources to win a Stanley Cup.”
superstar forward on Sunday after Canadiens threw a wrench Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon said the team was both
into the mix last week when they put forth an offer sheet for surprised and happy to have the deal done.
Aho’s services.
“We’re surprised. We love the player and we’re happy to have
The deal came in right under the third tier threshold — an this done. And surprised someone would have thought this
annual average value of $8.45 million or some $871 under the would work,” Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon told the News
limit — meaning that if Hurricanes would have agreed to let and Observer. “We were never going to let him go. He didn’t
Aho go, they’d received a first, second and third-round pick in want to go. This is just part of the business of getting the deal
2020 from the Canadiens as compensation. done. I said the day I bought the team and nothing has
The offer sheet also meant that Aho agreed to the terms of the changed, he’s one of if not the most important part of our
contract, including the money. For that price — given than future and we’re lucky to have him.”
some had Aho in the $10 million range per season — it seems With a week to digest the first offer sheet since 2013, some
he would have been happy to play with the Habs had the have wondered why the Canadiens didn’t go bigger and
Hurricanes not matched it. bolder if they wanted to actually sign the player.
On Sunday, however, they did. To move to the next tier, they would have been able to offer
“I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it Aho upward of $10.5 million while only giving up a second
was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes,” Aho told first-round draft pick as compensation.
NHL.com. “As a restricted free agent, I had limited options for Given the talents Aho possesses, it seems like a no-brainer
moving along the process to get a deal done. It was always and still falls short of the final tier where a team would have to
important to me to be on the ice for the first day of training give up four consecutive first-round picks for a deal worth over
camp. This entire situation has been difficult for me and my that $10.5 million amount. If nothing else, it would have put
family, and I am happy it is at an end. more pressure on the Hurricanes to commit.
“We have a young and exciting group in Carolina and I can’t It’s hard to envision a world where they would have just let
wait to be there with my teammates and get to work. I love it Aho go, but if you’re going to try, why not at least go all-in?
in Raleigh and I am thrilled that we can continue what we
started last season.” Carolina had seven days to match the deal. Montreal is now
free to throw another iron into the fire if they so choose.
With a day to spare to make the decision, it was one that was
already made much earlier last week. Meanwhile, Aho is about to be a very, very rich man.
The Hurricanes announced they’d match it on July 1, just a He’s over $21 million in the first year of the contract — all a
day after Marc Bergevin and the Canadiens tendered the part of two signing bonuses.
offer.
And this deal takes Aho right up to unrestricted free agency.
“This was an easy decision,” said Hurricanes general In five year’s time, he will have the world at his feet throwing
manager Don Waddell in a statement. “Sebastian is one of the bags of money his way to obtain his services. At 21, Aho will
best players in the league and the centerpiece of what we’re just be entering his prime, so he takes a little less now and will
building here. We’ve spoken to him throughout this process likely have a larger salary cap and, by extension, a massive
and he’s made it clear that he wants to be in Raleigh and be deal waiting for him on the other side.
a part of this organization.You can also read
