Quote:
Originally Posted by TheoFleury
If Gaudreau is fully prepared to sit out half the season or more, I would say whatever leverage the Flames have will disappear into nothing as the months drag on. It all comes down to how determined Gaudreau is, and nobody here has any idea how far he is willing to go. For all we know he could be 100% willing to sit out the season. Leverage is a funny thing, it can change drastically over time. Months into a holdout, RFA years, arbitration rights, etc, will mean nothing because the Flames will have most likely destroyed the relationship with the player. There is a real possibility of the Flames over playing their hand here if Gaudreau refuses to blink.
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This.
The only way the Flames have all of the leverage is if all of the sudden they don't need Gaudreau. If say they have two prospects step up and light it up and the Flames are dominating then Gaudreaus leverage goes out the window.
Highly unlikely though. Players like Gaudreau (Iginla, Fluery...etc) come around once every generation for a franchise.