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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True, but it's a double edged sword.
If Gaudreau sits out for half a season or more, he will have likely forgone more income than he can ever make up. 15 years is an unusually long career. And even then, one season is 7% of it.
Also, if he holds out to the point that the season is lost, then the Flames would only have MORE resolve - why give in at that point?
No one wins with a holdout.