He never wanted to stay, he wanted to go to Toronto all this time and lied to the Isles. They wanted to trade him before the deadline and he begged and pleaded with them not to.
He did not want to get traded during the season. If it took stringing the Isles on, not to get bounced around, then he did what he had to do. He did not want to be a bargaining chip. If he gets to walk away without compensation for the Isles, well that is the way free agency works. This move probably cost him $19 Million. I do not wish him ill. He will soon be reminded why many Canadians do not want to play in Toronto or Montreal.