I believe Canadian market teams should be able to out spend 80% of American teams.
Serious issues if a Canadian market team can't do that.
Agreed. What irks me is the sense of entitlement. You don't have to believe everything Melnyk says to get an inkling of the financial pressure the franchise is under.
Figuratively tar and feathering the Euge or withholding support for the franchise on the basis of unsubstantiated speculation or because he simply doesn't have the wherewithal anymore to both cover the losses
and spend $60-odd million dollars trying to build the fans ideal of a champion is just silly IMO.
Very much like a gold-digger who's looking to ditch her sugar daddy when said daddy can't buy her diamonds no mo'. She doesn't realize that she's still relatively secure and well provided for but she's gotten used to a certain lifestyle you see. If someone else were to present themselves with deeper pockets, well, the old fella will just have to find somewhere else to get his rocks off, hein? To hell with him.
Personally, I'm very excited about next years team. Think they're building something special, bargain roster and all. For whatever reason Alfie didn't want to be a part of that anymore. He wanted the organization to spend large too despite the lack of guarantee the team would be any better than currently. Compensation for playing at $1mm last year? Give me a break. Alfie's a smart fella. Whatever promises he thought he received when he added that extra $1mm dollar year he should have known that the circumstances would alter when
a) he decided not to retire after all and
b) his previously life-long team with a history of financial trouble found themselves working against an internal cap in an effort to remain solvent. Like every player is just an innocent lickspittle who can't figure out that the game he plays is also big business. Oh they know, don't worry. He chose to wash his hands after what he laughably calls "negotiations" and mosey on to "greener" ($) pastures.
Well fine. Well within his rights. Pack your bags homeboy, nice knowing you, much respect, I think you're wrong, but much respect. Huge loss for the team. Very messy breakup, but will it have an effect on our image in attracting future FA's, around the league? Hard to say for sure but I'm definitely leaning towards a big no there. The key, as it's always been, is to keep on winning. And by every other measure we're a completely first class organization, so, like, whatever man.