aragorn
Do The Right Thing
- Aug 8, 2004
- 28,667
- 9,155
You had me agreeing with you until the second part of the last line. We are also not setting ourselves up for success if we let him go given how much he already means to the team & franchise. What will the media now say about this team & ownership being cheap & allowing a future star player to leave? How can fans & media alike believe the ownership is committed to winning if they don't sign their prize possession & best young player? IMO it's the short term deal versus the long term deal.Tkachuk's 8 mil, then Norris 7 mil, then Stützle's 8.5 mil, then Sanderson's 9 mil = 32.5 mil + 59 mil we're already spending = 91.5 million.
I think we're not spending because this could be what we're looking at for signings in 2021, 22, 23, and 24 offseasons. Yeah, it's not that simple because some players will leave and some players not living up to or exceeding expectations, etc. but I don't think "Melnyk has to spend more to show that he's willing to compete" isn't as valid as it used to be when he's been showing recently that he's absolutely willing to spend to retain our current group of young players (and even add with signings like Murray and Dadonov). Brady waiting for the team to show they're willing to spend before signing long term shouldn't be a valid excuse for a deal not being done. If we're offering 8x8, money isn't the issue either. Don't give me the bonuses and structure line - 8x8 straight salary is already inflated for what he's shown. If it's been offered by the team and not accepted by Brady's camp, he wants to bleed the team dry or he wants a short deal to hit UFA. Both of those things are well within his rights as a player, but I don't think we're setting ourselves up for success caving and taking either of these scenarios.
This is going to be very difficult for PD to maneuver not just for this negotiation but the next one if a short deal is what is agreed upon in this current negotiations. They need Tkachuk in the fold more than Tkachuk needs them, most teams will pay him what he wants, this team unfortunately can least afford it later.