frightenedinmatenum2
Registered User
The issue I see for Staios is that I don't think Brady would ever ask out prior to July 1st. It just doesn't make sense for him to give Staios the option to deal him to the highest bidder with no say on where he ends up. Would be in his best interest to only do so after July 1st, as he could then dictate his destination thanks to his full NMC.
Sens fans should know better than any fanbase in the league the damage a NTC can do to a trade return after Spezza and Heatley. I think you're absolutely right that if he were to ask out after July 1st we'd get bent over in a trade return.
It's not out of the realm of possibility that Brady is fine playing out his contract here and then leaving via UFA, as he'd then get to go to wherever he wants without the potential backlash of having been first traded to some other team down south for a big package of assets just to leave at the first opportunity, but even if that's the case I don't think renting Brady for 3 years is in the best interest of this organization long-term.
Do I think Staios has the stones to trade away the captain of this team without him asking out first? I really don't know. He hasn't shown any kind of ruthlessness to this point, if anything he's been overly hesitant to make changes, stressing stability and patience. Might just do the easy thing, which is kick the can down the road.
Brady maintains the control regardless of where he goes because the NMC travels with him. So he doesn't really have to play games and pretend to want to stay in Ottawa just so that he can wait for his NMC to kick in and control his own destiny.
That is because being traded to any one team doesn't stop him from coming to that GM 6 months down the line and letting Mike Grier know that he gave San Jose a good shot, but it's really not working out and he wants to be traded to Florida or New Jersey, and that he is willing to work with them to get a trade done and maximize their return - but if they drag their feet he will use his vast media connections with Spittin' Chiclets to nuke his trade value.
If he doesn't want to be in Ottawa anymore, and wants to be with a big market contender, the most logical move for everybody is to work together to maximize the situation. Does that mean Brady will get to say Florida or bust? No. But he might be able to give Ottawa a list of his preferred destinations - which Ottawa can use to assure those teams that if they give up multiple A-level assets, Brady will want to be there - and Brady can use the list to ensure he doesn't end up on Columbus or San Jose.