[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

My latest theory:

We read last week that Tkachuk (and Gudbranson, but he's not really relevant to this) was the go-between that protected the team from Sutter. My theory is that Tkachuk wanted to stay (like he said he did), but the off-season conversation that happened wasn't so much about wanting to be Captain, rather it was "Sutter goes or I go."

I think people still leaving now after Sutter's been fired is out of not wanting to stay with an org that chose Sutter over Tkachuk and Gaudreau.

I say "and Gaudreau" because now I'm wondering if we have things backwards a bit. People have suggested that Tkachuk left because Gaudreau left. I'm now thinking that the "last minute thing that changed Johnny's mind" was the team keeping Sutter over Tkachuk and the ensuing idea of playing for Sutter without Tkachuk there to be the mediator.

Edit: (So, from Backlund's, Lindholm's (etc) perspective, it's like "you fire him now, after costing us two really good players/friends/linemates AND putting us through hell last season, when we all felt the same way about him all along? yeah, no thanks")