You're way overestimating the NHL code of honour and the bar set for professionalism here. What do you think would happen if Boudreau agreed to come in as head coach and TNSE fired Maurice? Are prospective coaches, A/GMs, future GMs, scouts, etc. going to turn down opportunities with the Jets based on principle? Zero chance.
So if it has no tangible impact, what's the real cost of TNSE's besmirched reputation other than some tut-tutting from talking heads?
If you want the best people in each of those positions, they'll have offers from other NHL teams for the same role. Want to pick up an AHL coach no other team is interested in and throw him into the NHL, great, I'm sure he'll sign immediately.
Want to sign a guy that has offers from other NHL teams, forget it. They're not coming here if they don't trust the people hiring them.
As far as talking heads go, why would I give two craps about what they say. NHL coaches aren't influenced by the media when it comes to their opinions of other NHL teams. On the other hand, the reputation of a franchise among their peers, i.e. other coaches, scouts, etc. is a huge part of how coaches view teams.
Like I said, if a guy only has one NHL offer, of course he'll still sign with the Jets. But that is a low bar.
The goal of this organization should be to be a place where the best staff want to work, a place they will chose over other teams offering the same level of control and pay. If you're not aiming for that, you may as well just shut the team down now.
I don't think there's anything wrong with revisiting a decision when new information comes to light. Actually it would be negligent to at least not consider it. And after considering it, if a new decision looks like a better one, it's negligent not to make it, despite what the rest of the industry may or may not think.
So you're telling me that Boudreau, with probably 3 or 4 teams chasing him, is going to choose the team that fires a coach 3 weeks after affirming he'll be the coach next season.
It is utterly ridiculous to think that Boudreau would even pick up the phone for Cheveldayoff in that situation.
Ask yourself, what can the Jets offer a coach or a scout that is being pursued by other NHL teams. What about the situation in Winnipeg would draw a coach here? There are lots of teams around the league that can offer more money, a lot that would probably be willing to offer more control and a large staff.
If Winnipeg is also viewed as a place where the word of management cannot be trusted, you're pretty close to bottom of the league in terms of attractiveness to quality staff.