Actually there wasn’t which is the point. Berglund was viewed around the league as a high character player and person. There little to indicate he would be a malcontent let alone do what he did. Even in his time here he was a professional and well like by his teammates. He didn’t drag any drama into the room while he was battling with whatever was bothering him.
Then he made a decision that was so shocking it surprised his friends around the league and former teammates to the point that they were concerned about him as a person. They were all reaching out to help him and were upset they didn’t know what he was going through. But for some reason Botts should have seen it coming.
The biggest problem I have with your take is the hypocrisy. You’ve defended Murray quite a lot. A guy who acquired KNOWN head cases who continued to be so when they were here leading to the dysfunctional and toxic locker we had. Yet I don’t recall you complaining about this very much, if at all. Yet you’re nitpicking this Berglund situation pretending there was some magical research Botts could have done to avoid it.
I'm not defending Murray at all. I generally don't think he did a remotely good job at handling people, from the Bylsma hiring to the ability to manage Pegula and not get fired after his first coach.
But we are talking about Botterill right now. And it's not a nit pick to say it was forseeable that Berglund might not be happy to come to buffalo. Nobody claims he was acting like a malcontent or was a bad guy. That's not the point. The point is that Berglund was in theory the only proven piece you were getting back, in a move that was literally all about culture. And the guy you are getting back, has been on one team for ten years and has a movement protection element to his contract.
To assume that that guy will be perfectly happy and improve your "culture" is just as lacking in looking at who the guy is as anything Murray missed on character.
A safe play on a veteran character guy was Gionta. From the area, wanted to be here and had a track record of success in different franchises. Many long time vets struggle when they move to a new team after a whole career in one city.
Quite honestly this was the best outcome even if it was the extreme outcome.
A more likely, and pretty much what we saw before he left, was that an aging guy who's play doesn't match his pay for a couple years before the trade declined even more, and we would be looking at a guy who can't live up to his deal. Basically another version Okposo without the near death experience.
It was a dumb deal. We all spent a year plus going over it in general. A lot of us looked foolish. Why do we need to defend the individual parts of the deal and act like Botts should have no idea about the contract status or the desire of the players he acquires to want to be here.
When the goal of a trade is as ephemeral and absurd as culture, you better fing nail the culture and desire part. You don't get to make a pipe dream hippy feelings trade and then say, how could I know maaannn.
