My thoughts, a mini essay to make sense of nonsense.
So, we all remember when the Wild split up The Deweys, and the reasoning was "Hey, young talented players, they deserve play-off experience and we want what's best for them *cough* can't afford to pay talent *cough*," yes?
We, the carers and feeders of ridiculous relationships that are real and evident and exist and bring tears to peoples' eyes, saw that splitting up the boys did what the suits said, experience, experience, etc, etc.
So, with Ullmark to the Sens, we are breaking up a relationship that is real and evident and exists and brings tears to peoples' eyes, because the partnership has outgrown itself - mentee overshadowing mentor - and *cough* money *cough*.
And lo and behold, both Deweys ended up in the post-season, on shiny teams that did well.
What does this all mean? *shrugs* Who knows. It's already been stated that it's a one year deal, Ullmark isn't going to re-sign with the Sens. Buuut, he declined a trade earlier with his no-movement clause, so why now, why the Sens, why break our hearts?
Is he sacrificing himself for Sway's future (yes), or is Ottawa a really great place to live for a year (um, maybe?). Why do I pick the self-sacrifice flavour of explanation? Because of this: what is different between this trade and the earlier, refused, trade? The play-offs. Specifically, Sway's experience and performance in the play-offs.
Thus, like the Deweys, a great relationship that is real and evident and exists and brings tears to peoples' eyes ends because some players are just too gosh darn good, and other people think they should have all the good things. Even us, the carers and feeders of ridiculous relationships, because we did have it and we did care, and that doesn't change.
Thank you for witnessing my rant, I'll be back on this street corner next Tuesday.