Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee
I think what you should do as GM is go to Gaudreau (now) and offer a very fair contract- the most you are willing to pay. Tell him it's take it or leave it time, you can't do any better than this, and that if he does not want to sign within X time (give a reasonable timeframe, 2 weeks or something), to provide the Flames with his list of teams he is prepared to be traded to.
Then if he signs, great, make a push and if he doesn't, blow it up and focus on rebuild. You should also take the time to explain the rationale, why you're doing what you're doing, that nothing is personal and that it is simply a matter of putting the organization first and that he is the key strategic piece of the puzzle to which ongoing / continued uncertainty will only hurt the team. Decision time. He'll understand and do whatever he wants to do.
To continue waiting and prolonging this though, is just stupid.
|
If you do that, he'll likely give you a list of 5 teams that have no interest in a rental player. Why would he do that? So that he controls all the cards.
Then what?
I assume they've offered him a "fair" contract. I assume Johnny wants as much as he can get. What's fair today may not be fair tomorrow. Johnny's leverage will only get better as he get's closer to UFA, and he likely holds all the cards right now.
You assume Calgary has the choice of paying him or trading him. It's likely paying him or losing him. Which likely means that Calgary will pay more than they would if they could trade him. The "most they are willing to pay" likely increases in a "walk away scenario.
And I seriously doubt that Calgary wants to play chicken when the odds are so stacked against them. And I seriously doubt they are prepared to punt the season.