Quote:
Originally Posted by Hackey
"Yzerman – whose day job is general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and who honoured St. Louis’s trade demand Wednesday and dealt him to the New York Rangers – hinted the infamous snub in which St. Louis was initially left off Team Canada was not the sole reason for the player’s departure."
"Yzerman declined to go into detail, but it appears the 15-year NHL veteran had made several trade demands since Yzerman became GM of the Lightning four years ago."
"The final step in the separation was still shocking. Until Yzerman made it clear St. Louis’s wish to leave did not erupt because of the 2014 Olympics"
Sounds like the guy just wanted to be closer to home and his family. Maybe Steve Y had convinced him on a couple occasions to stay. Marty stays out of loyalty. Then Steve Y snubs him. Marty feels why should I be loyal to you when you dont return the favor. I've wanted to be closer to my family for years now so sorry but I gotta do what's best for me because your obviously doing what's best for you.
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That is one read of the situation, but in my view Yzerman was just doing the right thing by not commenting on the trade demand or why St. Louis might have requested the trade. There were plenty of reports at the time that indicated the "snub" was at least a part of the reason for his request. That makes him look like a petulant brat. I think the timing is too conincidental for the 2014 olympics not to have been a deciding factor.
Good player, no doubt, but a fan doesn't need to love the guy just because he was good. And for those that saw the all-star potential of St. Louis while he was in Calgary: good on you, as you would be the only ones that saw that. No one in the Flames organization or the NHL in general (passed through waivers) saw it. He was Paul Byron, nothing more.