Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
No, the Flames do not have all the leverage, but they sure as hell have the lion's share.
The real imbalance in this equation is in the fact that Gaudreau's UFA status is still five years away, AND he is not offer-sheet eligible. His ONLY bargaining chip is withholding service, and I think this is actually more detrimental in the long run to him than it is to the team. As Jonathan Drouin discovered, players need to keep playing if they ever hope to retain their value. He can likely afford to sit for a few games, but not many more than three or four. Even if both parties are unable to come to terms on a long-term deal, a short-term contract still provides a lot of control to the Flames for another five years, which is an eternity in professional hockey.
Of course, this is all a worst-case scenario, and I remain supremely confident that Gaudreau will sign a 6–8 year contract, and he will be in the starting lineup on 12 October.
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No that's not his only leverage. In fact, that's not much leverage at all since as you point out, holding out likely gets him nowhere. His leverage is in refusing to sign a long term deal and leaving at his earliest opportunity. Forcing the Glames to lose him for nothing or trade him and likely not get full value. If the Flames want a long term deal, which they should, they are ceding some leverage here.