Wat.
This is utter nonsense. "we" didn't offer the contracts. "we" didn't start this trend of shifting big money contracts from the end of player careers to the start. "we" ultimately have zero agency as to what this or any other teams management does wrt the players they sign, for how much, and for how long.
At best, you could say that fans in Ottawa set an expectation of success. "we" didn't have any input as to how management went about f***ing up that.
If you feel responsible for this then fine. But leave the rest of us out of it. You're on your own.
Think back, 2011 with Fisher et all being dealt.
2017, the whole Zib. exodus
the Karlsson fiasco... a town hall meeting????????
the Stone departure.
By 2018 fans were beside themselves. Seeing Melnyk as a cheap bastard, not willing to spend. Perfectly willing to ship off anyone who wanted more than minimum wage.
"Melnyk OUT".. empty building...
So, along comes Chabot and White, fans are edgy.. One gets an 8 year,, the other a 5.. Over the next 2 years, Batherson, Tkatchuk, Norris, Stuzzle. If they had not, we would have screamed "there you go.. they are being cheap again" " now these guys will be gone, etc.". All to make sure we are calm and happy and repack the place.
They gave us what we wanted.
Our anger should have been at him from a different perspective. One that did not scream "hang on to our favorites"..
when people scream "I will never watch them again, they traded away my favorite player, XXXXXX". All that does is force the issue.
Calgary fans and their moronic inferiority complex.. That led to Huberdeau's contract, Kadri, Weager, etc. I will never forget Duhatck's quivering voice as he asked Huberdeau if he will sign to stay in Calgary.... Huibie's agent must still be pissing in his pants with joy... It meant 2 extra years and 2 extra million a year.
That is how we and Calgary caused the 8 x Y contracts.. We were angry, Calgary was quivering in fear.
Now we are angry in the opposite sense. So no 8 x Y for Pinto or Greig. In fact, there will be nothing more than 5 x Y for the next 5-10 years. Until the cycle repeats itself in 10-12 years.
IT WAS INSANE to have a town hall on Karlsson.. It was insane to see the uproar. All it did was ensure that the Chabot, Norris, White, Tkachuk, Batherson, Stuzzle, Sanderson clans will live happily for the next 5 generation's.
They need to have a toast in our honour for the next 200 years.