Thread: Leverage, Credibility and Interpreting the Sounds of Silence

Originally Posted by PRMan!!

As far as his options go, if that is truly how he feels (being a King through and through and wanting a better chance to prove himself), then he should just sign his qualifying offer and go to arbitration next season, if necessary. He makes less this season, but he gets in camp and starts the season with the Kings without too much conflict.

I think to a certain extent you are indeed correct. My speculation is that he does probably regret not signing that qualifying offer. O'Sullivan gave away more control then he may have thought by not signing the QO.

Originally Posted by Vicarious

Funny how Lombardi throws big bucks at free agents but seems to low ball the loyal players (Brown, Blake and maybe now O'Sullivan) If that is what has gone on, then I do not agree with that.

There IS some truth to this. The bigger picture is what if DL wins the battle with O'Sullivan and loses the war when he cannot get Kopitar and/or Johnson to sign either. Where will public opinion be then? I really think that is the scarier picture than #12's holding out.

WOWOW Great job !!!!! Nice reading for my luch break>>>>>Yes, it's a risk, but his agent isn't doing him any favors by him being out of camp at this early stage in his career. I think he is too young to be expecting a bigger check he had 1 good year with the team that really doesent prove much.....hope he signs and gets to work, his not making any money by being a FAN

Originally Posted by santiclaws

Executive summary: 1. He really wants to play for the Kings. 2. He really wants too much money to do it.

What about the possibility of 3. How Dean handles this contract effects his ability to re-sign Johnson and Kopitar. There IS also a big assumption that the offer from DL is fair and appropriate. That may not be the case.

DL had challenges getting some players re-signed in San Jose. There is evidence of that here. At some point, this may be about more than the budget he gets from the owners if he has problems re-signing players in 2 organizations. Drafting and developing is one skill; the ability to keep those players in the organization is another. Only time will tell if DL has serious issues of being able to do the latter.

Originally Posted by Carla Muller

There IS some truth to this. The bigger picture is what if DL wins the battle with O'Sullivan and loses the war when he cannot get Kopitar and/or Johnson to sign either. Where will public opinion be then? I really think that is the scarier picture than #12's holding out.

Now you're getting it. There's a bad message being sent here.

I would venture a guess that after the Lubo trade, Brown and Frolov maybe thinking their deals aren't so binding either. They signed long term to stay in LA, where's the guarantee of that happening?

Originally Posted by La39Potvin

his agent isn't doing him any favors by him being out of camp at this early stage in his career.

On this point, that is on DL. He wouldn't have let O'Sullivan come to camp EVEN if he was willing to do so while the contract specifics got hammered out. It also would have given the Kings time to have more direct contact with him then what is going on now.

Originally Posted by Carla Muller

What about the possibility of 3. How Dean handles this contract effects his ability to re-sign Johnson and Kopitar. There IS also a big assumption that the offer from DL is fair and appropriate. That may not be the case.

DL had challenges getting some players re-signed in San Jose. There is evidence of that here. At some point, this may be about more than the budget he gets from the owners if he has problems re-signing players in 2 organizations. Drafting and developing is one skill; the ability to keep those players in the organization is another. Only time will tell if DL has serious issues of being able to do the latter.

Thank you. This post articulates the greatest area of concern for all Kings fans. Will the organization be able to maintain the core it is so carefully building? Concessions and sacrifices must be made in both directions by both management and the players. If O'Sullivan is truly part of that core, then Dustin Brown's feelings cannot be considered serious part of accomplishing the real long-term goal. He will get his just reward when his time comes around again.

Originally Posted by fansince67

Now you're getting it. There's a bad message being sent here. ....Brown and Frolov maybe thinking their deals aren't so binding either. They signed long term to stay in LA, where's the guarantee of that happening?

It was this point that hit me most after spending time with #12's billet family. Kopitar and Johnson regularly communicate with O'Sullivan. This is a heck of a message to send them by DL and Solomon. This is NO longer just about the alleged greed of one guy. There are bigger repercussions at issue that spook me more than whether Sully signs.

This reminds me of when Messier guaranteed a win in the 1994 series with the Devils in game 6. He said after the fact that when he made the statement, he did it to motivate his teammates. He never took into account how it would fire up the Devils.

DL may or may not be right on what he is doing with O'Sullivan. He seems to be missing the point that now that he has repeatedly and publicly named the team's core and builders, that these same players will then reasonably want to be paid and treated the way players who have that organizational standing possess. And if DL doesn't back it up so that his actions match his words, what will be the effect of that?

Originally Posted by VCRW

Thank you. This post articulates the greatest area of concern for all Kings fans. Will the organization be able to maintain the core it is so carefully building? Concessions and sacrifices must be made in both directions by both management and the players. If O'Sullivan is truly part of that core, then Dustin Brown's feelings cannot be considered serious part of accomplishing the real long-term goal.

I have never read or heard that Brown's contract has somehow become the equivalent of a cap to any player with similar stats or upside. And yes, DL's ability to keep this core he built concerns me now that I got an appreciation for O'Sullivan's side of things. *sigh*