That isn't really an issue, that is simply the price for getting a star player under the CBA. They avoid escrow and minimize risk of a lockout.
The issue is the impending NMC and potential for any trade to set back the franchise more than it already is if Pettersson simply doesn't want to be here, which isn't something that can simply be waived away.
The potential for an expensive black eye and crater in asset management if a massive trade like this backfires.
In the scenario where you pay the premium price to get this player, and the next season he simply uses his NMC to force you to trade him after his signing bonus is paid out and wants to go to a limited set of teams
You would be out:
- 10M cash
- Likely taking half (or less) of what you paid for Pettersson because you simply can't him on the bench in another must win season
- Just more organizational embarrassment of a player saying 'get me the f*** out of here'
The type of finesse and competence that would be required to both pull off the trade AND then sell the player who is salty about the team he just signed an 8 year deal to the worst franchise in the league to that its good to be here is not something Adams has shown the ability to do.
This is why the Pegulas simply need to end the madness now and get Adams out of there. The franchise cannot exist under an understaffed and incompetent group that is facing a ratcheting amount of public pressure by the minute.
This season should simply be old yellered at this point, put an interim GM in there with the instructions to sell off pending UFAs and find an interesting reclamation project or two for the opened roster spots.
Focus on building up the new front office around someone with experience and competence. Allowing Kevyn to even consider a deal with this potential impact and backlash is asking for a 20 year playoff drought.
thehockeywriters.com
