I dont call bullshit. There is a clear and present pissing contest between Q and the Bowmans. Q will not use the player that Bowmans got for an intended purpose and Bowmans are trying to define who is running the show.
In all honesty, Bowmans admitted guilt in pissing off or on Saad when his agent simply gave them 6/36 as a starting point. No negotiations to a bridge contract that might have worked at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 where the dollars were actually the same and they get some relief while Hossa was still being paid.
Taking back sharp was for the fans.
I guess they felt Panarin is expecting to be at 8 or 10 next year. But instead they pay a guy like Anisimov who Bowman loved a 4.5 cap hit. Yes, AA is a nice player, good on the power play and net front presence, but getting those 200 feet to the net and not being outskated by his wingers is a problem.
Last year, no faith to let the D men develop, so they kept Soup who showed he was slow and done, then went back to Oduya who was slow and hurt.
That is what I always go back to. The big Sved covered really nicely for Keith when he hurt his knee. But after that, back in rockford.
Now they are already writing articles asking which veteran D man we are going to trade for? Who have they given up on, Murphy, Forsling, Franson, not Rutta I hope. These guys need this NHL experience and getting that betteran is not going to help any development. TVR gets dumped to Vegas while they protect Panik, Jurco and Hammer when they wanted the salary relief from Hammer anyway?
Then Q's buddy Kitch gets fired without Q's approval, but then the Bowmans bring in Ulf, Q's buddy to fill the role, even though Ulf is most probably seen by Q as his replacement.
We are talking about lines, while the ice is yellow from the pissing contest.
What is there to figure out. Keep the kids and you get cap space for now.