I think Dave's article is a good bump to this thread.
It's not anti-Marner... the article has a REALLY good point.
If you have to work for a boss you hate for the long foreseeable future... how much do you want to earn?
Personally - I'd definitely want extra... and I'd definitely take a paycut if I really liked my work environment and other boss.

There's a greater issue at hand - which is suggestively referenced by the Rachel Doerrie tweet: culture.

People can say what they want about different generations of people.
Every generation has good qualities and negative traits.

This new generation (Gen Z)... they are even softer than the Millenials as far as "feelings".
Nothing wrong with that.
Elders will say "they need tough love" or "they take everything too harsh".
It is. what it is.

When I played high school soccer, I had a teammate that had very similar skills, size, pace... everything to his game.
One day our coach was being very critical of players.
I said "Man, I hate it when he picks us out - I get nervous and don't play so well when I feel like I'm going to get yelled at."
He said "Really... I play harder and focus more when somebody is on me."

Two completely different reactionary mindsets to the same situation.

I know, at my own office, that the new generation of engineers... if I tell them "This is poor work. Your mind was somewhere else..." they think there is some other outlying issue I have.
"No", I say "We are engineers, the safety of the world is in our hands, please take it seriously."

But, I'm out of touch for what they need to hear.
I don't know how to fix it.
I'm Babcock.



The players ALWAYS will run the NHL - whether they know it or not.
Everything will evolve around what is best for their production.
Good owners, good GMs, they'll see this, know this, understand this.

The old guard is being moved out... in most places.
There's still a few places where the old guard is working (specifically NYI)...
But in most places, teams will need to pander the delicate feelings of their players.
Whatever gets their best production... that's what is needed.
Babcock's ways (obviously) worked in Detroit.
Babcock's ways (obviously) did not work in Toronto.
The only difference there... is time.

5 years from now, it won't surprise me if the majority of NHL coaches AND GMs are under 55.


Anyways - all of this speaks a lot to a player possibly wanting to leave his current situation/team... even as an RFA.
So this thread... probably the best place to discuss it.