I think a big part of the perceived problem (from those of us on the outside) is that the management did not give the players a headsup and explain the situation and warn them their names might/would come up in trade speculation.
They are under the cap with roster of 20. They may be able to deal with situation internally and not have to make any moves.
(Now, long term that seems untenable. Ideally, they have a roster of 23 under the cap. It could be there will be some vets who clear waivers and get assigned to AHL.)
Long term, this is reputation making. The team seems to be perceived as "going for it" and willing to move (or at least talk about moving) "key" players. More treated like a commodity than a person (with feelings) by not given respect of letting them know a move might happen or even be considered.
This could reduce the loyalty that existing players have. They may choose to "move on" on their own terms or demand "market value" rather than taking a "home town discount" to stay with the team.
The "all of us together against the world" mentality of the 2017-18 season is eroding/gone.
Now, it's a machine feeding off the fabulous Las Vegas fan base shooting for a championship.
Identity is changing. And that might rub some players (inside and outside the organization) and fans the wrong way. It may also bering a few more onto the bandwagon.
Eh, I think they can work on communication but this is way overplayed in my opinion. And Chris Johnston on Dangle's podcast pretty much said the same thing. Every team moves players every season, Vegas hasn't done it much more or more at all than league average every season.
Fleury didn't take a discount, and would probably be said to have taken an overpayment that everyone knew was too much at the time. Stone took no discount. Whatever that team loyalty reputation was in this misguided argument, it wasn't helping us do anything.
Boston, Tampa, New York and St. Louis were making moves this season that twitter would scream about as unloyal to players. Other teams did it last season, other teams will do it next season. This is the league, every team.
I would further argue our core was safe and knew they were safe, it's just some players may have convinced themselves they were part of that core when they weren't.
Theodore, Stone, Karlsson, Smith were all free from any real rumors and Tuch was even a player I believe they were said as unwilling to let go without being backed into a corner. Reaves has been free from mention. Stephenson and Lehner would feel safe getting new contracts.
You don't have ten players in your core, no one does. Everyone else, especially the higher earners who are contributing pieces, is movable. For every contender. The high earners are the ones who make a dent when moving salary and the players who still contribute positively are the ones you can move, so they get moved. That's where Stastny, Marchessault, Pacioretty, Martinez and sadly Schmidt found themselves.
They'll find no more loyalty anywhere in the league, just ask the other thirty teams who are going to be "mistreating" players all over the place with regard to the expansion draft for the second time pretty soon.
You don't get the opportunity to add a core piece in free agency very often, a top ten right handed defenseman, and you do what's needed when that rare instance arises, especially in a strange season where every team is having to crunch money they wouldn't normally.
This is just some of the Vegas hate making mountains of molehills.