I assume that the basis for your comment is along the lines of "new lease on life" and "change of scenery" from a bad situation. If that is what you meant I would agree in Eichel's case. But Pettersson is not Eichel. While Pettersson still has world class skill comparable to just about anyone, nothing in his game suggests the kind of drive and fire in the belly that also makes the greats what they are. Just a guess, but I think that's what pisses Miller off so much about him.
We went from elite to great. There’s few greats. A player like a Pettersson comes along and may be available, a team like the Isles needs to make that move. You take the risk, that’s what Vegas did. My reference to Eichel was less his Buffalo situation, more on his neck surgery - Vegas was willing to take him on (and he didn’t even play post-acquisition) for the upside. There was a lot of downside too.
Horvat already knows whether he’s the right guy or wrong guy or the problem.
Who knows what the issue really is, but Miller has a past of not getting along with teammates under the guise of being ‘competitive’ - maybe some players just don’t jive with that behavior and it impacts how they play.
Apparently they want RD, I’d ship out Dobson++ in a heartbeat for him.
I would make Barzal or Dobson the focus of that deal. Even better is Isles have to add salary to offset the cap so another player is going in either deal, which again, is good in moving on from some of these guys.