From LeBrun (The Athletic)
https://theathletic.com/3352265/2022...ni-malkin-ufa/
Less predictable in my mind is where the Gaudreau situation is headed. Fresh off a whopping 115-point season, the UFA winger has indicated a genuine love of playing in Calgary. I do think that’s real. So, that’s an important start. But on the flip side, an extension didn’t get done last summer before talks were frozen once this season got underway. Why didn’t it get done last summer?
Again, we’ve got a veteran player agent involved here in Lewis Gross, who has been in this situation many a time.
Flames GM Brad Treliving made it pretty clear at the team’s season-ending media availability that he isn’t going to sit back on this one. He’s going to aggressively try to get Gaudreau re-signed. But I think if you read between the lines, there’s a more important message hidden in there: It’s not just about wanting to re-sign Gaudreau but also wanting to get some kind of answer — either way — on the player’s true intentions sooner rather than later.
Which is to say I don’t think the Flames will want to be doing this dance on July 11 or 12 ahead of free agency. They will want to know where they stand probably within the next couple of weeks. Because if they realize they can’t get him signed, they will want time to pivot. Remember, they also have RFA Matthew Tkachuk to sign.
The question, however, is whether Gross gives Calgary a firm, clear answer on that kind of timetable or uses the next five weeks to play things out.
It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s a scenario in which Gaudreau and Gross don’t want to close the door on Calgary but, given how close they are to the UFA market, may also want to take a peak. That’s a scenario the Flames can really live with. They need a firmer answer than that.
One thing to also remember: If for whatever reason the Flames can’t re-sign Gaudreau, and decide to gauge the trade market ahead of July 13 to see if the eighth year on a max deal is worth enough to another team to jump the start of free agency, Gaudreau can only be traded to five teams without his consent. So the agent has a lot of control over that particular path.
For now, the only thing the Flames are focused on is finding out if Gaudreau would re-sign and, if so, how they can make that happen way before July 13.