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Originally Posted by IgiTang
But it's not just 3 games.. These 3 games purely solidify his stance that he is among the NHL elite.. NOW! Not 2 or 3 years from now... Now... And has proven he can do it at the NHL level consistently by his performance over 160 NHL games and now the class of the world.
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Right. He proved what kind of contract he's worth by those 160 games – not by the 3.
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Pay him like it before you piss him off. I get he's a RFA and has no rights, doesn't mean he can't hold a grudge. He's a man first.
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Yeah, I remember how Iginla wasn't signed by the start of the regular season that one time, and he held out and refused ever to play for the Flames again. Oh, wait…
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Just protect yourself or the team by making sure there's a limited NTC so you can dump him if an issue arises (lack of commitment.. Yeah right.. Or injury or whatever).
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Gaudreau isn't even eligible for an NTC for the next five years. If he doesn't pan out as expected, there will be plenty of time for the team to trade him before then. This really isn't a bargaining chip that an NHL club would pay extra money for.