This whole situation just reeks.
I agree with what has been said about him not being right with the "young guys" getting paid top dollars and essentially outpacing him in that department. Funny enough, though, he has nobody to blame but himself for signing that mega deal. He wanted to lock in the guaranteed money, which was more than fair value at the time, and could be argued the Jets were taking more risk in the proposed deal at the time. Laine, from what I can tell, was the finishing blow after he got paid and Mark was left with the "outdated contract." Based on what we know and see now, I think that just never sat right with him.
I've been saying for years that while the Jets might have won the deal and got Scheifele on quite the sweetheart transaction as it would play out -- that it must be understood Scheifele is in line for one more big deal in his career. It just now is clear that won't be in Winnipeg. Instead of pulling his head out of his ass and putting emphasis on the details he praises himself for focusing on (ie defensive game, etc) he decided to moan, sulk and cry ultimately to forcing his inevitable end here in Winnipeg.
It's sad because this is not what I envisioned in any capacity for the trajectory of his career. Especially not after that 17-18 playoff run where he looked ready to take the next step to be one of the elite in the game. It almost feels silly seeing these comments that myself and others included were so ready to see him get the C stitched on his chest years ago. Boy, how things change.
Clearly this has been brewing for years but I am not surprised with these comments by Scheifele. It's really the cherry on top for this situation. Instead of handling this internally, he's trying to take the old playbook out of painting the Jets in a corner, hurting their leverage within the league in some capacity trade wise, to ultimately get what he wants -- a new start.
I can't help but think about the old saying that you need to "talk the talk and walk the walk." For years, I heard Scheifele call himself a hockey nerd and say he obsessed over the details to make himself better. Funny thing he is that was all lip service these past few seasons. Contrast that with a player like Nathan MacKinnon. A guy who is criminally underpaid, shuts his mouth, goes to the rink every day and has his team poised to go on a Cup run with the hope of achieving the ultimate goal for Colorado. He knows he is slated for a massive payday and that his time will come. Most importantly, his play on the ice obsessing over the fine details to be one of the best dictates what is thought about him around the league -- not his soundbites to the media.
I guess we will see if you can "talk the talk and walk the walk" somewhere else.
Good riddance, Mark.
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