[sureLoss]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/03/17...-any-time-soon

Johnny Gaudreau has heard the whispers and wants to put the rumours to rest.

A Jersey boy who attended Boston College and spent all his life out east, it’s only natural people wondered if he’d cut short his time out west so he could play closer to home.

Instead of the eight-year, $60- to $64-million-type contract he’s likely staring at to stay with the Flames, perhaps he’d push more for a three or four year stint with an exit strategy.

Not so, says Johnny Hockey.

“I love it out here in Calgary and will be here for a lot of years to come — I don’t think that’s really a problem at all,” Gaudreau told the Calgary Sun.

“It’s difficult (being far from his family) but I think that’s part of being a professional athlete. I’m 22 years old and I’ve been away from home since I was 17, going back in the summer and I’m used to it by now.

“It won’t be long before I’m starting my own family. Obviously it’s great to be close to my family out east but it’s something as a pro athlete you have to learn to live with.”

Gaudreau’s parents have come to see him in Calgary several times the last two years and they also hook up with him when the club travels through New Jersey, Philadelphia and other nearby cities.

“During the season I only get to see them three or four times, so it’s difficult,” said Gaudreau, who will once again spend his offseason back east.

“One of the reasons I can stay in Calgary so long is because I can go home every summer and spend time with my family out east.”

Gaudreau said there is nothing new to report on his contract negotiations, insisting things have been on hold since before the trade deadline when his agent, Lewis Gross, flew into Calgary. Gaudreau is typically laid back when it comes to the process, suggesting he isn’t worried at all about it.