I’m not talking about fans, Im talking about the players in the Oilers dressing room, a collection of guys who are close to and doing everything they can to realize a lifelong dream. If young guys want to chase bags instead of being apart of that, it’s their right and I’m sure guys can understand that in a lot of situations. But in this case, you’ve got young players doing something that players almost never do, which could directly hinder the teams ability to maneuver the cap in a season that’s most likely one of the best chances most of the guys in the room will ever have at winning a Stanley Cup. I think it’s fair to say guys might be a little upset at a kid with less then a full season strong arming his way into a 4.6M cap hit in that season.
You kind of have to respect Broberg for it because it’s such a stupid amount of money it would be hard to say no to that but the Oilers don’t need to be paying a bottom pairing defender with 80 NHL games almost 5M dollars.
It's also an opportunity for the young guys to secure increased roles and grow as players. In my sports playing days, I have been a big piece of a middling team that overachieved and a smaller piece of a juggernaut. I preferred to be the bigger piece.
These guys gave an opportunity to play a bigger role in St. Louis and to develop into better players due to that increased role.
Maybe Broberg feels he didn't deserve to be in the AHL almost all year last year. Here's a team with a big gaping hole at 2LD and he only has to beat out the corpse of Ryan Suter and Perunivich who looks like some players' 12 year old kid skating at practice in daddy' uni. This team, believes in your potential and is willing to make a pretty rare move to bring you in and help you grow.
Or maybe Holloway thinks he's a C that deserves more than 4th line minutes. Maybe an increased role is more important than being jerked around as a bit-player in the push to ensure McJesus' legacy.
When Draisaitl asks for a huge raise squeezing out the amount Edmonton can pay it's depth, after this year, are people going to call him greedy for putting his bag above the team's success? Why didn't McD sign for half his contract? He still would have been set for life and the team could sign a ton better depth. People calling out athletes for decisions that affect their entire life and happiness are so hypocritical. You're not mad he's greedy, you're mad that he may not be on the team you root for anymore. (Not you specifically but fans in general)