Gaudreau: Flames have 3 year window to do something pretty great

[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/news/johnny-gaud...?tid=277548856

"I think we have three great years ahead of us," Gaudreau said from the Commonwealth Avenue Charity Classic Hockey game at Boston University last Friday. "I'm really looking forward to these next three years."

Gaudreau, who represented Boston College, his alma mater, at the charity game last week, put the opening at three years because the majority of Calgary's core players are signed for the next 2-4 seasons, including defensemen Travis Hamonic and Michael Stone.

Hamonic, acquired from the New York Islanders on June 24, has three years left on his contract. Stone signed a three-year contract with the Flames on June 30. Defenseman TJ Brodie and forwards Michael Frolik and Troy Brouwer have three years left on their contracts.

"When you look at a lot of the contracts on our team, a lot of them end in two or three years so that's a window and we can do something pretty great," Gaudreau said. "Who knows, if we do something great in the next three years, maybe guys will want to keep playing with us, keep playing in Calgary and we can keep going. I think it's a great direction."

Gaudreau's optimism comes from Calgary's somewhat surprising success last season, considering expectations under then first-year coach Glen Gulutzan and the additions general manager Brad Treliving made this offseason.

[JFK]

There seems to be a higher commitment and enthusiasm level from Gaudreau this off-season, it's great to see. This team could really use a step up in leadership from him. Not questioning things before but Gaudreau truly "getting it" would be a boon for this team.

[Travis Munroe]

I like to think the window is larger than 3 years with the young guys we have and Tre negotiating.

[bax]

Originally Posted by JFK

There seems to be a higher commitment and enthusiasm level from Gaudreau this off-season, it's great to see. This team could really use a step up in leadership from him. Not questioning things before but Gaudreau truly "getting it" would be a boon for this team.

I would agree with this. It really seems like Gaudreau is beginning to become a better leader and a great ambassador to the city and team.

He was here for the stampede parade, he was part of the team in recruiting Foo, he has been making contact both privately and publicly with new team members.

I'm predicting a huge year for Johnny.

[Gaudfather]

Exactly what you want to hear one of your team's stars say ....no one wants to hear "I think we can make some noise in five years". The focus starts now....make it happen Johnny.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by bax

I would agree with this. It really seems like Gaudreau is beginning to become a better leader and a great ambassador to the city and team.

He was here for the stampede parade, he was part of the team in recruiting Foo, he has been making contact both privately and publicly with new team members.

I'm predicting a huge year for Johnny.

Can you imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth if Johnny edged McDavid in points this season?

I think Johnny could achieve 90 pts at his peak and McDavid in a regular or slow year is probably about ppg.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

https://www.nhl.com/news/johnny-gaud...?tid=277548856

Originally Posted by NHL.com

"Gaudreau's optimism comes from Calgary's somewhat surprising success last season, considering expectations under then first-year coach Glen Gulutzan and the additions general manager Brad Treliving made this offseason.

The Flames were considered underdogs by many but got into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the first wild card from the Western Conference with 45 wins, including 41 in regulation or overtime, and 94 points, largely because they went 20-9-1 in 30 games after the All-Star break."

Were the Flames really considered "underdogs" by a lot of observers? I recall from the start of last season that most had them taking a big step and competing for a playoff spot.

[JFK]

Originally Posted by bax

I would agree with this. It really seems like Gaudreau is beginning to become a better leader and a great ambassador to the city and team.

He was here for the stampede parade, he was part of the team in recruiting Foo, he has been making contact both privately and publicly with new team members.

I'm predicting a huge year for Johnny.

The Foo thing and already being here skating are big things for me. Now it'll be interesting to see which Oiler fan is the first to poo all over this (Oil Stain or Weitz?) but this is a positive step for Gaudreau.

Last season and last training camp was such a disaster for the Flames. Gaudreau hold out, Monahan injured, Versteeg not signed until late. That's the entire first line in game one who didn't skate together once before it. The D pairings were such a mess, that's on Gulutzen but he really wanted to ween off Brodie-Giordano and it sucked but it's paying off now. Our D pairings are already set.

Obviously there will be new and interesting challenges but this team should be able to hit the ground running this year, and not need several weeks to get things together.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by bax

I would agree with this. It really seems like Gaudreau is beginning to become a better leader and a great ambassador to the city and team.

He was here for the stampede parade, he was part of the team in recruiting Foo, he has been making contact both privately and publicly with new team members.

I'm predicting a huge year for Johnny.

We had Alex Singleton on our podcast last night and he talked about the unfortunate horse ride that Johnny took during the Stampede parade that involved falling off of the horse into something unpleasant.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

I like to think the window is larger than 3 years with the young guys we have and Tre negotiating.

I agree, but I like the sense of urgency from a player like Gaudreau. There's no taking for granted that they've got like 8-10 years to get it done. The time is now.

[Charsiu]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

We had Alex Singleton on our podcast last night and he talked about the unfortunate horse ride that Johnny took during the Stampede parade that involved falling off of the horse into something unpleasant.

That's good luck isn't it?

[JFK]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Were the Flames really considered "underdogs" by a lot of observers? I recall from the start of last season that most had them taking a big step and competing for a playoff spot.

https://www.nhl.com/news/2016-2017-p...ts/c-282554762
NHL.com article with 20 analysts on their playoff predictions. Out of the 20 only one had the Flames comfortably in a playoff position with three others as a wildcard spot. Four of 20, I'd say that a good indication of expectations last year.

[bc-chris]

so this isn't guy from the predators right??




gotta love Johnny!!

i'm sooo looking forward to the season starting - hopefully the flames will have things figured out and get off to a strong start right away. the beginning of last season was tough

[TheScorpion]

The team looks... how do I say this... ####ing amazing on paper. At every forward position, there are at least three players who could possibly score 40 points this coming season. At left wing, there's Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Versteeg... at centre, there's Monahan, Backlund, Bennett, and Janko as a wildcard... and on the right side, there's Ferland, Frolik, and, hell, even Brouwer. Same goes for the defense.

The cool thing about last year's success is that it came with a TON of players underachieving. Gaudreau, Bennett, Brouwer, even Monahan a little, and Elliott. If even three of those five, or in Elliott's case, one of Smith/Lack, can rebound and have a great year, then the Flames will be off and running.

[dash_pinched]

All they need is something to bring it all together...

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Were the Flames really considered "underdogs" by a lot of observers? I recall from the start of last season that most had them taking a big step and competing for a playoff spot.

I think given our inconsistent performance in the first half of the season labelled us as underdogs, even during our run.

Moving into this season though with our new D-core, I think there are much higher expectations.

[locsofblu]

Hopefully 30 great years.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

I like to think the window is larger than 3 years with the young guys we have and Tre negotiating.

It could very well be more but our current major window is the next 3 years.

These should be Monahan and Gaudreau's most productive years, majority of our defensemen are all in their prime and major veterans like Frolik, Backlund and Giordano still have years left in them where they perform up to or at least near their contract values.
Not to mention, after 3 years our contract situation will have dramatically changed with the likes of Bennett and Tkachuk likely needing major raises, Frolik, Hamonic, Brodie, Stone and Brouwer all with expiring contracts which is almost about 20.8m in caphit. After that it'll also depend on how well our top prospects will progress because until they do, we're still waiting to shed the ongoing development disappointments of NHL talent outside of high 1st round picks.


So if you were to guess what the Flames would look like in 3 years time, good luck. As of now though, Treliving has basically created his contending team save for some spots here or there (cough goaltending).

All that's left is for the team to execute.

[_Q_]

The pessimist in me looks at a comment like that and thinks that Gaudreau is committed to this team for only another three years. If they don't make any noise between now and then, he'll likely look elsewhere in free agency.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by _Q_

The pessimist in me looks at a comment like that and thinks that Gaudreau is committed to this team for only another three years. If they don't make any noise between now and then, he'll likely look elsewhere in free agency.

Well i'm glad he's stuck here for another 5 years then .