Edited Aug. 25, 2023 at 3:05 p.m.
Quoting: jaysinhorror
I think the context of both teams going for the same player are important. Detroit acquires him a year after picking up a handful of higher priced free agents the season before, so while the PLAYER is an upgrade, Detroit kinda played the same song last off-season.
When Ottawa had done it, it was after years and years of being super...conservative when it came out to handing out contracts, be it to their own drafted players, or free agents. It was a big move and a big swing for a team that had otherwise been incredibly conservative in recent years
I get being excited about acquiring a player via trade or UFA. I was happy for Ottawa fans at the time getting Cat. But I knew he wouldn't re-sign there long term. Many fans thought this too.
But I think it's hilarious that Yzerman trades for him and it's like meh. Detroit still sucks. Double standard. Fans ripped Yzerman when he was gutting the team after Kenny Holland ran the team into the ground. "Why doesn't he spend money on UFA's? Where's the trades, Stevie?"
Then when he does make a big trade and spend money on UFA's it's "Yzerman is ruining the rebuild! What is he doing?"
Detroit has to overpay to get players to sign there, right? These players are placeholders until their young studs are NHL ready. Why can't fans understand this? 🤔
And his draft picks are always questioned? "Seider! Who's that! Horrible pick!". Those same clowns a year later were saying "well Seider was a no brainer. Easy to make that pick." You guys didn't even know who he was! 🤣
Damned if he does. Damned if he don't. Yzerman is clearly building this team for 3-4 years from now. But the casual hockey fans don't get it. Why?
Because they don't want to get it. It's much easier (lazier) to just write them off and say they suck. Hence the strawman statements made by the OP.