I'll just address both replies at the same time.
I get what you both are saying, and there are definitely valid reasons for some of the actions he has taken. I don't blame him for not extending when Benning was still running the show, and I also don't hold it against him to extend as soon as Allvin took over because he understandably wants to see that things have changed.
However, he didn't need to do the Elliot Friedman interview, he didn't need to repeatedly and publicly say that he wants to play for a winning team. By doing all these, he is clearly putting the pressure on management that "you better put a winning team on the ice or else..." Had he played it quietly and just say "I'll let my agent handle it" or something like that, it would've been much less threatening.
By winter of 2023, the team was already winning, they extended his running mate (Kuzmenko), the dollar and terms the team is willing to offer is more than fair, management has proven to be competent, coaching has appeared to stabilized. What else is he waiting for at that time? A player that wants to play for a winner (which the team was at the time), offers max term at fair market value (if not more), and surrounded by good players, is refusing to sign? What other logical conclusion can you draw, aside from the fact that he isn't all that committed to staying?
Sure it is well within his right to wait until the summer like he wanted, but he and his agent HAS to know the kind of awkward situation that puts the team in. They cannot let Petey go into the offseason without a contract, and open themselves to an offer sheet. They cannot plan beyond the 2023-24 season unless they know whether their 1C is staying, and how much it would cost. They cannot risk the Tkachuk situation and torpedo the team's competitive window. He didn't HAVE TO request a trade, his (in)action inevitably leads to one unless he sign an extension before free agency. I can understand why management were feeling antsy about the situation and had to resort to "threatening" him with a trade.
All that plus the Friedman interview and his past quotes, it seems reasonable to conclude that this player is either the most oblivious person in the world (which is unlikely as his agent would've advise him on such issues), or he isn't really all that commit to staying.
I think ultimately why he extended when he did was, partially, due to his declining performance. Had he played out the season and the playoff the way he ended last season, I doubt he gets $11.6m. He knew he was injured, his production had started to suffer as a result, it was no longer in his best interest to hold off. Is that the sole reason? Probably not, but I think its a factor.
I realize this is all just me speculating, I have no problem with anybody disagreeing with me. But none of us know what he was thinking throughout the last few years, why he said what he said, etc, so I think we are ALL speculating at this point. I hope those that disagree will at least respect the conclusion I have arrived at, I don't think I made any unreasonable assumption here. Of course I can be wrong, but until further information comes out, this to me is the most likely explanation.
Devils discussion (news, notes and speculation) - part III
