Quote:
Originally Posted by dustygoon
I can’t recall, but when Johnny first signed and played to burn a year, didn’t that kind of hurt him in this latest contract? Lack of arb rights and not eligible for offer sheet or something?
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Yes. He had no arbitration rights and he couldn't sign an offer sheet which may have hurt his earning potential a bit. Arguably he might have been able to get slightly more because a potential offer sheet might have driven the Flames to close on a deal sooner than later. But still by burning a year he earned $6.75 mil in his 3rd pro year instead of $1.85 mil because of an ELC.
What really hurt Gaudreau more was timing. If he didn't burn his first year he could have had his contract negotiations after the McDavid extension and maybe Draisaitl was announced and using that as a benchmark.