I’m curious what goes into a player’s decision when asked to waive an NMC. If there’s a family, it’s bigger than the player himself. If not, I can see “well you don’t want me here so screw you” coming into play.
Of course taxes, uprooting, competitiveness, and travel all play roles. I just don’t see SJ as a non-starter in those conversations. We have the spots to give more ice time, give better roles, facilitate a trade, and give players on the last year or two on deals a chance to try out California and the Western Conference in general.
Obviously, we suck, but I think we might actually be an attractive option for someone coming in on a trial basis with our good prospects, leveling up on stats, less media scrutiny, and building value either to stay here and be part of the next big push or get that next deal elsewhere.