Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
Don't pile on djsFlames. It was my comment.
He's not my definition of a man. If that's narrow and ignorant, I accept that.
But just look at the last 48 hours.
It's been said here. He's lost money, lost term, lost legacy, lost a chance at a cup. He might lose more money because there's no signing bonus, no front loading. He just can't think for himself. He's immature.
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Why do those things mean he can't think for himself? Might mean the exact opposite in fact, and my guess would be actually indicates that he was very much thinking for himself, because most people would not have given up that list of things, and his agent, certainly wouldn't have been pressuring him to give them up.
All that said, I was waking up this morning, trying to figure out why the fact he signed in Columbus, for less, has somehow made this sting a little less than earlier. I think the answer would be:
- It validates, that the Flames did everything in their power to get this done and what we put on the table was more than enough to get this done. The Flames did their part.
- Also, when I thought he was going closer to home, I think I also figured one of those teams would not only be getting to play back home, they were orgs he felt like were trending in the right direction for a cup. So essentially, I figured he kind of wanted everything, money, home and a chance to win. And him not choosing us meant he Calgary didn't fit multiple of those criteria.
Seeing him sign in Columbus, and knowing he could have signed in NJ, means my (and likely our thoughts) on what he really wanted weren't as close to accurate as thought.
I don't doubt he actually likes Columbus, or has heard good things about the org. But what it does make clear in my opinion is:
- His main motivation was absolutely location, and that definition of location was potentially much different than we thought. Maybe it was just he wanted out of Calgary, maybe it was out of Canada, or maybe just out of the west. And maybe because he wanted less spotlight, maybe non of those.
Either way, he gave up a lot, as mentioned by you to hit his location criteria, so much, it's hard for the majority of us to even wrap our heads around it or understand it. But the fact that I can't understand it, doesn't make me think less of him. His priorities are his right, and if anything, I'd say it took some courage to make such an off the board decision.
But the reason I think it makes it hurt less, is that while I don't judge him for his choice, it does highlight to me, that from a pure hockey fan perspective, that his priority list likely isn't one that is going to make winning with him as your key player very likely. He forgo a couple of locations (NJ and CGY) that I think most would argue would have a better chance of turning into a winner. He gave up on the chance to be a historic player with a franchise. These aren't decisions someone who has a burning desire to win and achieve in their profession makes.
It doesn't make him a bad person, or even lacking in courage. It does mean that I am more likely to believe, winning isn't high enough on his priority list to build a team around him. Maybe that's wrong.