GDT: Free agent Frenzy Thread

[majormajor]

I wonder what exactly was said in that April meeting, since Werenski reportedly feels he has said everything that needs to be said.

On another topic, it seems that Zuccarello won't re-sign with Minnesota. Maybe offer him a 1 year deal?

It doesn't hurt to try. He's still good, isn't he?

But this is funny - the last time we had an exodus from Columbus, seven years ago, Jarmo's top target in UFA to replace some of what Panarin gave us was Zuccarello. Zucc chose Minnesota over us.

 

[majormajor]

I don't think we can do the messaging like last time "we want players who want to be here", as if everything would be better as long as people were happy to be here. We can't sell people on being able to sustain a winner full of players who choose Columbus. It doesn't work. Some guys will be happy here but they're not all going to stay that way.

We're going to have to accept some of the occasional ugliness. If we have to keep players who wanted to leave then so be it. Their presence shouldn't bother us because we already know the situation. We know we're not a team that everybody chooses to go to. And those players will have to make the best of it because we're not afraid of some occasional bad media, their agent doesn't scare us if we're not pretending to be something we're not.

 

[EspenK]

I don't think we can do the messaging like last time "we want players who want to be here", as if everything would be better as long as people were happy to be here. We can't sell people on being able to sustain a winner full of players who choose Columbus. It doesn't work. Some guys will be happy here but they're not all going to stay that way.

We're going to have to accept some of the occasional ugliness. If we have to keep players who wanted to leave then so be it. Their presence shouldn't bother us because we already know the situation. We know we're not a team that everybody chooses to go to. And those players will have to make the best of it because we're not afraid of some occasional bad media, their agent doesn't scare us if we're not pretending to be something we're not.

I think the only thing fans care about is having a team that is fun to watch and is always competitive. Keeping guys who want out can't have a positive effect on a team. At best it can be neutral as long as the guys who want to leave continue to produce as before and don't become a distraction.

I agree the team needs to stop with the "we want players who want to be here" bs. If it is true that Z 86'd the Dallas deal then it should be confirmed by DW and let the chips fall where they may.