If the Flames wanted to bring Johnny back, they should have thrown negotiation out the window IMO.
If you follow the rumor mill, they started at $9.5m AAV and worked their way up from there right to the wire today.
This is a loyal guy IMO, but he's also a Northeastern American guy with a pregnant wife who is also from that area, and both families too. He doesn't like to fly, and out there travel is a lot less cumbersome. He grew up a Flyers fan, the Flames have a ####ty old arena and no new one on the horizon anymore.
I mean, there was a million things pulling this kid back home and the longer this went on the more and more likely it got that he was a goner. It's easy to Monday morning QB but like I said, they should drawn a line in the sand and offered him $88 million a week or so after the season ended and given him a deadline.
"Johnny, this is our best offer. We get that you have time still, but we don't. We have a lot of fish to fry this off season. You are the biggest part of our team right now and we want you here for the rest of your career. We think we can win with you. But we can't wait until July 13th, we need to know right away so we can continue building around you ASAP"
Would i have worked? I don't know, but time was their enemy IMO given all the factors pulling him where he is now going to go.
But, ah well. He's going where his heart is now.
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