Sounds like the team took the Tanev trade pretty hard, which isn't surprising, as he is no doubt very popular. So this comment turns the heat down a little bit.
But as for sending the wrong message, they have/are traded/ing 3 of their top 5 defensemen, and 2/3 of last year's top line. Suggesting that trading Markstrom too, is 'sending the wrong message' just doesn't carry any weight.
I think it's an easy position for them to take, as they probably don't get a deal done anyway, and it also serves very well as posturing to potential buyers: "change our minds!"
|