You are assuming that JT's issue with resigning is solely based on the GM and the team's performance or success or lackthereof. It may be something entirely different.
Exactly. Like the arena issue, a new wife who'd love to be in Canada, living in the hustle and bustle of New York, dealing with Brooklynites, tolerating Boychuk's breath...
We can't assume JT is watching Snow like a hawk and is basing his decision to stay on whether HE feels Snow is bringing in the personnel he approves of.
Which is something I think a lot of fans seem to think is a key priority.
If he didn't believe in the team/GM he could always just ask for a trade? Why wait for UFA?
I think the most important thing here is that the GM does what the GM has to do - place the team ahead of any and all individuals, even the face of the franchise.
Snow knows better than anybody how things are looking on the JT front. Technically, Snow's job should be on the line for any combination of "JT leaves/Team flounders".
As such, it's either keep JT here and succeed or move him for other helpful pieces and succeed.
I've mentioned in recent weeks that if JT were traded now, before the season begins, some likely targets and returns could look like this:
- To San Jose for Logan Couture, Josh Norris, and 2018 1st rounder
- To Calgary for Michael Backlund, Sam Bennett, and Oliver Kylington
- To Toronto (with de Haan) for Kadri, Nylander, Andrew Nielsen, and 2018 1st rounder
Naturally, any dealing of Tavares would have to bring back a return allowing us to continue to have a team ready to compete for the playoffs while contributing some form of replacement down the line.
Whereas any team obtaining him would be doing so for just one season and the knowledge that he'd likely be resigning a long-term contract next, there would surely be enough teams in the fray (5-8) to provide the NYI with a fair price.
Again, the best thing would be for him to be signed long-term and Snow can go about the business of worrying solely about how best to surround JT. For me, about the worst thing that can happen is that we enter the season with him unsigned and simply make a go of it for one year, not knowing if he has to be moved at the trade deadline (should we be out of a playoff spot, which I'm not expecting) or if we'll enter the summer with our hearts in our guts as July 1st approaches.
Actually, that last part is the single-most scenario I don't want to see and is unfortunately the one I MOST expect us to see.
Which tells me the GM hasn't done that which is most important from a GM...