Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaskal
Thinking about what people have said regarding Johnny's agent pushing for his first superstar contract really makes me feel like we'll see a Giordano-like holdout. If I were him and Johnny was my first superstar client, I'd make sure (even if it was a losing battle from the start ) to go to bat for him until it's time to go home. Fight tooth and nail for every penny for him and go the distance. Raise a racket (WCH non-negotiating period), whatever it takes. That's what Johnny is trusting his agent to do while he concentrates on the hockey side - if the ask is not near what their camp wants, push back.
I agree that "time to go home" period for Johnny's camp would be the start of the regular season. He doesn't seem willing to sit out for games that matter.
But even then I'm not worried about the contract being an anchor. Gio held out... people were predicting 7.5, 7.25 etc for AAVs. The dream contract at the time (for me) would've been something like 6.75 for 5. We got 6.75 for 6 instead - I can't speak for others but that definitely made me happy. One year off.
Maybe we'll see a 6.75 / 6 for Johnny too - since Gio would be off the books at the same time, we could afford to bump him once contract is up for renewal.
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What is this Gio holdout are you talking about? His most recent contract was an extension signed 10 months before his existing contract expired. That is the opposite of a hold out. Do you mean when he went to the KHL? I guess that was a hold out but it was over not getting a 1 way deal and is completely irrelevant to Gaudreau.
A better example would be Iginla holding out in 99 and missing the first three games of the season.