This is what I’m thinking / hoping for as well. If it was just a one year deal , it would get done right away. Neither really benefits from going to arbitration so you’d think that at the very least they come up with a one year deal UNLESS they are down to the wire and doing last minute shit on a 4+ year deal…hopefully … please …
I know I am probably over-reacting but if it goes to Arb , I honestly think you trade him before the season starts (unless the offers are terrible) . I hope it would not cause a distraction in the locker room. If so , I’d prefer they find a trade it came to that. It would suck as we are just about to get this thing off the ground here and Bratt helps with that greatly. I’m sure we will not “win” any trade for him where we get the better player out of the trade unless it’s a younger kid who eventually becomes a stud. Thing is we could really use a player that is ready to produce right now.Who knows , maybe Fitz has a deal lined up as plan B if this did go to arbitration?
Trading him now doesn’t make much sense to me because he value will be higher when his new team can sign him to a new deal. Teams are also pretty settled cap and roster wise. I don’t give a shit about distractions, not to the point it should influence any decision.
Unless the offer is fantastic now you try to get over whatever is blocking this and get this done during next season (after Jan when it can be done but before the TDL would be ideal).
Fitz obviously would have some sense how realistic he thinks the chances of that it is.
I just want him to be realistic about what will happen. If the chances of a long term deal look bleak, then move him at the TDL or draft.
That’s a tough short move to make, we going to get worse, but keeping him longer and pretending anything good will happen after he files for arbitration again will be bad asset management.
The only advantage is we will have more cap room to work with and Bratt will be 25. At that point it would be 8 years or bust, we would have to really go all in or move on.
I mean we could have tried for a 3 year deal like Calgary got with Mangiapane now but that’s more depressing for me (personally, I don’t if it strategically or whatever).
In the end Bratt could be open to a longer deal, it’s just a question of a number and it probably won’t be a team friendly one. I don’t really give a shit, I don’t debate the numbers, I just want it done or Fitz to do the read the room and trade him if it’s not happening.
I would be thunderstruck if Fitz had a plan b right now.