Anyone thinking that Johnny is going to re-sign in the $7M ballpark is dreaming.
The going rate for a 1st line all-star that isn't good enough to carry a team is in the $8M range with a 6-9 year term - e.g. Giroux, Couture, Hall, Voracek, Kuznetsov.
CP likes to crap on Johnny all the time, but in reality, he is two seasons removed from finishing 4th in hart voting and he has finished top6 in AS LW voting in three of the past five years.
Is he worth $8.5M for the next seven years?
Absolutely. Just because the Flames don't have a another player like him (or better), doesn't mean that he isn't a necessary component of the Flames roster. Gaudreau managed to fool us all into thinking that Monahan was a first line center. He's also helped to elevate Lindholm to another level as well.
Even with a bunch of first round picks, it's hard as hell to find and develop a player that ends up as good as Johnny. Someone will sign him for a significant amount...hopefully it's the Flames.
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