How many teams make their decisions on what their players want or don't want? Managers manage & players play. Did Chara leave because of Hossa being traded or did management think he couldn't play in the new NHL because of his lack of speed? They said they could only afford one Chara or Redden & they kept the wrong one in hindsight. I'm sure it happens elsewhere with players & the last sentence is irrational, we don't know what would have happened.
I liked Paul, always argued to keep him, but we could not have paid him what Tampa did. I also liked Brown & argued to keep him, but he wanted to test free agency & cash out. I don't blame him, he had a good yr & wanted to exploit it. Giroux IMO replaced him & is the better player, Pinto IMO replaced Paul & will be the better player. Joseph IMO is going to be a trading chip.
IMO we have a better team now with the additions of Giroux, DBC, the emergence of Stutzle, Sanderson & Pinto. Chychrun should help the team next season, so should a healthy Norris & Zub & Kleven looks like he could turn into a player. The future looks bright for this organization IMO while the team we had over the last number of yrs was growing stale & needed to be changed. We should have a much better group to start next season then we did to end this past season but they need to find a starting goalie.
