So lets compare the pros and cons of Gaudreau moving on. Lets start with the pros first.
1. Gaudreau is from the NJ/Philly area, all his friends and family he grew up with are there.
2. His wife's family and friends are from the same area.
3. Less flight time, we know Gaudreau is not fond of flying.
4. If the choice was the Flyers he would be choosing his fav team growing up and his friend Hayes plays for them.
5. Gaudreau is starting a family, closer to friends/family is nice to have around.
Cons:
1. His wife and himself have certainly made friends in Calgary and have appeared to put down roots there.
2. The Flyers have no cap space, their best players have injury issues, they are trending downward, and they are trying to stall the rebuild by bringing in a coach who rubs skill guys the wrong way.
3. NJ has key pieces to sign that will eat up cap, they need another starting goalie, they need to bolster their D, they need a #3 C, and they want to get bigger. Gaudreau probably hated them growing up.
4. NYI: They are cap strapped, they are trending down, and hockey takes a backseat to pretty much everything else in NY.
5. Pittsburgh: A Flyers fan growing up joining an aging Penguins group whose window has closed. That is not happening.
6. Boston: He isn't a fit. They need centre depth, their core is aging, and their star RW is making noise he won't re-sign there. They are trending toward rebuild.
7. Regardless of playing on an East team, he still will have to fly quite a bit.
Pros and Cons for staying in Calgary. Pros first.
1. It is the team that gave him his break into the NHL, he didn't think he would be drafted.
2. He has bought a house in Calgary and his wife has joined him in the city.
3. His parents and family love the organization, love coming to Calgary where they are treated like royalty.
4. Gaudreau can easily afford to have his family live half the year in Calgary like he does if they so wished. If they don't with todays technology it is easy to video call every night if they want. It actually might be desirable for the Gaudreau's to have it where they have that break for half the year, not everyone when they are starting their own family wants their parents around 24/7.
5. The Flames can offer him much more money than any other team can with the 8th year.
6. The city eats, lives, and breathes hockey first, that matters to a star player like Gaudreau. He has stated he enjoys fans interacting with him and how engaging and passionate they are.
7. He is close with the roster and the organization for that matter. His best friend (Monahan) is there and he isn't getting moved for a variety of reasons. This is a guy who just got married and invited everyone in the organization to the wedding, even the equipment managers.
8. He is comfortable here. He knows his linemates, he knows the coach who just got a career year out of him, made his game complete, and has won multiple Stanley Cups. THis team is built to win now.
9. The lure of bringing the SC back to Canada. He might have been born in the US but Gaudreau surely understands what a big deal accomplishing that is.
10. The organizations reputation is second to none with community work. I think that matters to a guy like Gaudreau, especially with kids. He even met that kid after his parents pranked him that Gaudreau was leaving and told him he is going nowhere. That was a while ago but it shows his character. He probably has special relationships with many sick kids, that means a lot emotionally to a player.
11. The country and western theme of Calgary. Johnny is a big country guy, Calgary is basically Nashville North. He loves the Stampede.
12. The legacy and the records. It has been reported Johnny Gaudreau absolutely cares about these things. He can go down as one of if not the greatest Flame ever. Hold all the records, number retired, maybe a statue built at the new arena. In Philly, NJ, NY, Boston, etc.. he is just another guy who played for the team.
Cons:
1.Far away from his family, his wife's family if they have no interest in moving.
2. More flight travel than the East.
So what did I miss? Feel free to add. This is not me telling you why he is going to stay, this is just trying to balance out reasoning.
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