Recently, Colorado Avalanche fans had a ‘freak out’ about Tyson Barrie’s RFA situation, but I think the media discussion on Nathan Mackinnon’s situation has been a little too quiet. And it’s beginning to scare me. With July 1st come and gone, Joe Sakic has made little indication that a deal with Mackinnon is imminent, insisting they’ll have it figured out “by training camp”.
Here’s the thing though: unless Sakic is willing to risk arbitration with his young star, waiting that long leaves the kid open to signing an offer sheet, something Sakic is more than familiar with. Offer sheets are rare in today’s NHL, but if I’m a team with tons of cap room and hurting for offense, I’d be thrilled at the chance to acquire such a strong talent, or, at the very least, put the Colorado Avalanche in a tight spot.