AustonsNostrils
Registered User
- Apr 5, 2016
- 7,409
- 2,533
We paid the bad organization tax.
To Jame's point Tampa at the time wasn't a top organization, Melrose followed by Tocchet.
If there is a negative to Botterill signing Eichel to the 10M 8 year deal last summer it's being exaggerated. Let's say we didn't sign him, he has a disappointing 65 pt season in a tumultuous disappointing season under a new GM/Coach regime. He'd still be the team's top PPG player and the face of the franchise so he's still going to get a big deal, 9M vs 10M probably, not a big deal. After another depressing season for the team and himself he very well might have decided to decline giving up any UFA years and that would have been bad for the organization - even if things deteriorate here with Eichel his trade value will be greater with him under contract for 8 years vs 5.