No. We'd look even worse.
So, SO many people around here don't seem to understand how in reality, hockey players are just the same people as we all are. They just happen to be good at this sport we love to watch. They have their own preferences just like us.
Dustin Byfuglien is known to love what Winnipeg can bring: he reportedly loves fishing and hunting, which he can do in Winnipeg. He also has two kids, one of which was born in last October, only a couple of months before Buff signed his contract extension. The fans use numbers to evaluate whether or not the player should remain with the team or move on. The players think differently. For a father of two who loves the place where he lives in, the numbers might not be worth anything.
There are different types of people in the NHL, that goes without saying. Some of them are looking for the biggest amount of money possible, the others look for security, success or even just a nice place to live in. But as we all know, if someone prefers one thing over the other AND has an option to choose, that preference will most likely be the decider. Buff wanted to stay in Winnipeg, and chose to re-sign with a team which plays in the city he loves, in exchange for money and security. That's something Winnipeg should and will respect, especially considering that Winnipeg is not one of those cities where every player fancies to live in. Scheifele is another example: he was the one who pushed for an eight-year deal. In my opinion, they might have not been untouchables before their extensions, but now they definitely are. They showed loyalty towards the team. That's something we absolutely can not reward with a trade, even if it technically improved the team.
Treating the players as well as the club possibly can is a part of building a successful hockey team. If neglected, the results can be catastrophical.