Completely different scenerio with a different roster and prospects. Bowman was fighting for his job there. Jones was 28. Higher AAV and cost more in assets. Nobody has mentioned playoffs next year.
That team didnt have Bedard, Demidov/Levshunov, Nazar, Moore, Korchinski, Hayes, Del Mastro, NHL Vlasic, Moore, NHL Kurashev. Commesso, Greene etc. Adding a 25 year old fits.
That team had no direction or plan. That didnt fit a timeline. Strome Debrincat Fleury Dach Boqvist Beaudin Mitchell Hagel Kane Toews. They were stuck in limbo and the prospects didnt turn out.