I think free agency could be a tough sell for the first offseason in Utah. No players have ever been there. At least with Arizona, despite all the issues, the players had a basis of the city/state, what it would be like to live there, the facilities at GRA/Mullett, etc. I could see us needing to go more the trade route in order to get our improvements this offseason.
I don't like Marner's play at all. No intensity.
It will be interesting to see what free agents want to come
I am not sure what hotels NHL teams stay at, but I heard a podcast today where they talked about what the players told RS that they wanted
1) was they wanted more support for their wives and families and wanted them to be treated better
2) they wanted to stay at better hotels
RS said done to both.. he said they will stay at the same hotels the Jazz stays at.
In the NBA part of the agreement is that teams stay at 5 star hotels.. so the Yotes will now get that..
Since hotels are supposedly not part of the CBA, I am not sure if NHL teams usually stay 5 star or not.
But that could be something that does attract free agents
I also think the welcome to Utah was likely watched by other players and could have favorable results