Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
I get the feeling that he really wants out but is torn about leaving the guys in the locker room and feels like he owes the organization a cup or something.
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Stockholm syndrome.
The organization has bent over backwards to meet his requests and demands and convinced and mobilized Snet to give him extraordinary coverage that only Leafs and Habs usually get. Not because he asked for it more because Lowe wanted him to be the next Gretzky in terms of cultural appeal. They wanted him to be the next Canadian star and if he left to the US because he wasn’t promoted, that would be a loss for Canada and Snet ratings. Lowe played Snet like fools in that regard, and it remains today with the coddling and cozying that MacLean and crew trip over themselves with McDavid.
But I’ve said this for a while, I think he’s let the Oilers know long ago that he was going to be leaving to go play somewhere else after this current contract is over. He was unhappy for years with things and had mid season meeting with him and his agent. It all got hashed out, and both sides agreed McDavid would commit to playing his full contract without issue or playing any negotiation games and the Oilers knew the window they had before he walks. No return is going to be big enough nor really possible with NTC.
Sure they’ll make an public attempt to change his mind after going to the Finals somehow two years in a row, to sign him short or long term, but really, this has been determined years ago, and the Oilers committed resources and continued to sell their soul to the Devil to get Kane and Perry and anyone else to win while having McDavid.
But as part of the arrangement, each side will fawn over each other so the mouth breathing fans don’t get upset at him or the organization. That is the stage we are in now as players migrate back to team activities.