Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
There have been a significant number of contracts signed this summer by young players that would fit your narrative:
MacKinnon, Schiefele, Forsberg, Barkov, Tarsenko, and now Monahan
The best comparables out of that group are likely Forsberg and Tarasenko, as they are wingers. We could probably include MacKinnon as well, as he has played wing for much of his career.
I would argue that STL overpaid for Tarasenko, when you compare his contract to all the others.
I would further argue that Gaudreau deserves something in between what Forsberg and Tarasenko got.
Anyone that thinks that Gaudreau deserves significantly more than the group above, is likely going to be disappointed.
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I agree with you completely, it's not like Gaudreau is the first of this group to get a contract, but we are still very much in the infancy stage. Also, let me be clear, short of Calgary signing him to such a low ball deal that the relationship sours (which isn't even a possibility) I'm hoping we lock him up long term for as little as possible.
But even when I look at your list of comparables, and all your points are very valid IMO of where he fits, I can also see a side to the argument from the Gaudreau camp that he's the best of the names on that list, and will be the best from that list moving forward. Maybe it's my Flames goggles, but if you forced me right now to pick who's going to be the most likely to emerge as a clutch difference maker on that list, I'd pick Johnny. Given these long term deals are all based around "potential" I don't doubt for a second that Gaudreau and his agent see if the way I just suggested, and are looking to get paid the most out of everyone on that list...........and I'm not sure they are out to lunch in asking for that. Especially when you think about the added factor of Marketability to the franchise............Johnny tops that list IMO by a long shot as well. Lots of legit reasons for his camp to be asking to get paid more, just as the Flames have lots of ammo to pull him between Forsberg and Tarasenko as you suggest.