Jamie Nye: Canes’ offer sheet is an entertaining and shrewd move

The Montreal Canadiens are bent out of shape because the Carolina Hurricanes turned the tables on them with a restricted free-agent offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

The Canadiens gave an offer sheet to Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho a few years ago, which rankled the Canes and they waited for their opportunity to pounce to throw it back at Habs general manager Marc Bergevin.

And then Saturday happened, from the Canes’ statement that was a mirror image of the Canadiens’ statement regarding Aho to a $20 signing bonus — 20 is Aho’s number — to even changing their Twitter account bio to French.

Yes, the Hurricanes took the Aho offer sheet personally and then made it personal this weekend.

It’s very reminiscent of the Brian Burke-Kevin Lowe saga from 15 years ago.

But the real question isn’t about whether the Canes are a bunch of jerks, it’s what Montreal will do. The Canadiens get first- and third-round picks if they let their young star walk, or they find themselves in a financial pickle if they keep him.

Overall, it looks like a perfect play by the Hurricanes but I’m thinking this feud isn’t close to over yet between the Habs and the Canes.