I think that's pretty likely, but I also think they should have done a better job anticipating how that negotiation would go. Kaprizov moving from Milstein to Theophanous should have at least put the possibility of a long-term offer being rejected on their radar. It's entirely possible that they would have dragged this negotiation out regardless, but that possibility should have been accounted for. From both what Russo's said about the team's internal reactions and the way the offseason has played out, they didn't see it coming at all.Maybe what he had up his sleeve was scuttled due to the Kaprizov negotiations. It's kinda tough to take on additional salary if the team's most important player isn't signed.
I appreciate that we all have to work within the limitations of circumstance, but at some point it's the GM's job to manipulate circumstances in a way that benefits the team. To my eyes Guerin's approach so far has been mostly reactive, which doesn't build a lot of confidence. For all I know it'll work out fine, especially after the team exceeded my expectations last year, but overall it just seems weak.