Assume DL wanted Gaborik back even if they didn't have the '14 run. Gaborik does not accept that contract structure without the run that occured. All hypothetical but you get the point.
Sure, but Gaborik was also coming off 2 straight years where he was hurt for a decent chunk of games, and was traded twice. Once for Matt Frattin. I'm not sure if Gaborik was looking at another big contract without that 2014 playoff performance. Like you said, it was only after the playoffs that Gaborik all of a sudden had the leverage that he did. Before that, two teams got rid of him, and he was aging and breaking down.
Chicago guys delivered three cups and are homegrown. DL has brought in guys that were lining up for paydays and thought that winning would cure the cap issues of bringing them back.
And had the Kings done something in 2015 or 2016, I think either Sekera or Lucic might still be on the team. Lombardi would've forced himself to do it, for good or bad, because of his sense of loyalty. The team didn't win though, so he didn't go the extra mile the way he has for Brown, or Kopitar, or Quick, or Gaborik when they've had to get deals done.
It also is much more difficult with the bigger names...they have the NHLPA to answer to as well so taking less money and/or term doesn't sit very well.
Yeah, that's probably one reason why Lombardi has usually gone for guys that were signed. He wasn't really a rental guy. Gave up a 1st for Penner, but he was signed. Gave up nothing to get Gaborik, and it worked out great.
Now that they've won a couple Cups, more guys are signed to bigger and longer contracts, so Lombardi may not have the same flexibility to bring in guys that are already signed like Carter or Richards. He's had to go for the rentals now, because there's no way of knowing exactly how long the window is open. Not many teams win 2 out of 3 Cups, so they had something special there, and he's tried to keep that going. Which has now cost them two 1st round picks for 1 whole playoff win, and both players are gone.
