‘Complete control’ is an armchair GM fear. Most players have no interest in that, and a ton of interest signing a long term deal with their current team. Guys like to to hit UFA when they want to leave their current team, like Stone, Duchene, Matthew Tkachuk….
Guys like DBC have been very forthcoming about not liking moving, and wanting stability for him and his young family. He’s also said numerous times that it will come down to him seeing if the team is a fit for him longbterm.
In the end I doubt there will be any leverage games, and there will be no jostling for ‘control’ as some fear. It will come down to if DBC wants to stay with the team longbterm.
If he doesn’t he will be traded. If he does, then he and his agent know where he slots into the current and recent salary structure. I think he pretty obviously slots in between Norris and Brady based on his own history, and the current level of play of Brady, Stu, and Norris’ history.
I personally don’t see a better longbterm hockey situation for him realistically, unless it’s a lateral move to Detroit or Buffalo, but for a young family focused man it will likely come down to fit and finish for his family.
It was a great trade at the time, and still a great move now. If we can lock the 24 year old 1st line winger up longbterm we will have closed all of the major holes on the team save for a question in net (Soggy is looking more and more like our future goalie though).
