Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
If they came back with 11. This would be done by now IMO.
Thing is, at that number, Chucky would have to go.
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Here is the thing...at this point it's a bit of a game of chicken.
Flames can't up their offer too early, Gross can't show Gaudreau's hand too early.
Time and ambiguity is the leverage that Gross/Gaudreau have here. On the Flames side Treliving needs to stay patient and not bid against himself.
I honestly think if Gaudreau truly wanted to leave he would have just said so already and wouldn't string the Flames along. This is about maximizing the contract but to do that you need to use the entire period prior to free agency starting, and make it seem like you are willing to go to the open market.
If the rumor is that $9.5M is the latest offer from the Flames then Treliving is smart to not up his offer too early.
If he moves off of $9.5M now then Gross/Gaudreau can just go "Thank You, we will think about it" and just sit on whatever the next offer is until the deadline hoping the Flames panic and up the offer again. Flames are only negotiating against themselves at this point.
Gross uses the entire time period available to him as leverage. I don't think $9.5M gets it done but I don't think if they Flames put $10.5M in front of him right now he immediately signs that either.
Gross is using the UFA deadline as leverage to maximize the contract.