Page 54 of Cheap Shot

He managed to get the earbuds connected just in time for Mac to hang up again. Luke sighed and called him back.

“Hey,” Mac said after the call connected. “You are there.”

“Hey.” Luke set a carton of eggs on the counter, the grocery bag rustling. “Yeah, I’m here. What’s up?”

“Just wanted to give you an update on where we’re at with negotiations,” Mac said.

“Alright,” he said warily. He leaned against the counter with a sigh.

He could already tell it wasn’t going to be what he wanted to hear. Mac started those conversations with,Hey, good news!

“It’s … they’re willing to go up in AAV but the most they’ll give you is one year.”

“Goddamn it.” Luke got it. The team had some wiggle room in what they could afford to pay him this season, but committing to a second season when a player his age tended to rapidly decline physically was a big gamble. But that didn’t mean it didn’t sting.

Mac cleared his throat. “I think a lot of it has to do with being unsure where O’Shea is at and how the season will go.”

Luke nodded. Connor’s shoulder issues weren’t exactly a secret. He’d been out on and off for brief periods because of it throughout the years, but at some point, he was going to need to have surgery done. “Sure, I know about O’Shea’s shoulder …”

“Yeah, but it’s not just that. His contract’s up at the end of next season.”

“Oh, come on,” Luke scoffed. “It’s not likehe’sgonna have to beg for a contract. He’s a cornerstone of the fucking franchise. Besides, his play hasn’t exactly dropped off. They’ll give him whatever he wants.”

“Yes. But what I’m hearing isn’t coming from ownership. It’s that he’s givinghimselfthat time to swing hard for a Cup this season or next, then weighing retirement at the end of that second season.”

“Oh.” Luke frowned. He hadn’t known that.

“To be clear, this isn’t something I’ve heard directly from anyone. It’s just general talk around the league so it may not even be accurate, but if it’s true it does impact what happens going forward.”

“Yeah. I get that.”

“However, I think the ownership group was hoping that Connor’s son would at least be drafted by the time Connor retires …”

“Nolan’s fifteen,” Luke said with a scoff. “He’ll be sixteen this summer. He won’t be draft eligible for another two and a half years.”

“Sure,” Mac said. “But if you don’t think they’re hoping they can draft him …”

“Oh, I’m sure they are,” Luke said. “They’d love to get another O’Shea in there before Connor’s gone. I just don’t think it’s realistic that he’ll be NHL ready in time for them to play together the way Finn, Pat, and Connor did with Declan.”

“Look, I get you. I’m just saying I think they’re hoping that at minimum they can draft Nolan, get him up in the NHL for at least a game, and still have Connor playing?—”

“No fuckin’ way,” Luke scoffed. “I mean, if that works out, that would be ahellof a storyline but …”

“I know. It’s a long shot. And I have no idea what Connor is actually planning. He’s not my client so this is all probably thirdhand at best. I just wanted you to be aware it’s going to be a factor.”

“Right.” Luke rubbed his head. Though, if Luke remembered right, Mac wasJesse’sagent. So, he might know more than most.

“So what does this have to do with me?” Luke asked.

“This season has taken everyone by surprise. After missing the playoffs last season, the Harriers had pretty much been written off as contenders?—”

“I knowthat,” Luke said impatiently.

“So no one expected the team to be where they’re at in the standings right now. And no one can predict what it’s going to look like once the team’s in the playoffs. If from now until the trade deadline in March, someone critical is injured, Gavin may have to spring for someone to fill in that gap. If everyone remains healthy and the team gets close but doesn’t quite make it, that changes the moves Gavin makes too.”

“Sure, I get that,” Luke said, mulling over the possibilities. If they won a Cup this season—he knocked on the wooden cabinet door at even daring to think of that—then that changed the team’s trajectory too.

“So at this point, with so many questions up in the air, you’re not going to get more than a one-year deal from Gavin. I just don’t see the Harriers committing to anything until they know what direction the team is heading.”