Montreal Canadiens helped the Toronto Maple Leafs with Mitch Marner

Although the two are rivals, the Montreal Canadiens helped the Toronto Maple Leafs with the Mitch Marner situation after offer sheeting Sebastian Ah.

The old saying goes to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Mitch Marner and the Toronto Maple Leafs have been at the forefront of the restricted free agent chaos since the offseason began, yet it was the Montreal Canadiens who made the move in trying to acquire Sebastian Aho.

The offer sheet was shocking and bold considering it was the first offer sheet seen in years. Many hint at one happening every year, but it usually ends up being a wasted amount of hype and excitement. Marc Bergevin stepped up and did it, however, the effect of the offer sheet hasn’t been as reassuring as it initially seemed.

For starters, the Carolina Hurricanes matched the offer sheet immediately. Not too much to be surprised at there. Aho signed the offer sheet but the deal at $8.4 million for five years wasn’t scary enough to make Don Waddel and the rest of the management group sower in fear. If Aho continues to do what he did last season with an 83-point performance, the deal will quickly look like a steal and the Hurricanes will have the Habs to thank for that.

Perhaps Bergevin should’ve gone to the next level which would’ve cost them two first round picks as well as a second and third. That may have done the trick to make the Hurricanes decision harder, but now Montreal has been used as a gag when it comes to offer sheets.

Regardless of that, Bergevin’s boldness to make the move to better the Montreal Canadiens will have an effect on the rest of the league. In fact, it’s already had an effect on the Leafs and how they plan to handle Mitch Marner.